College of General Dentistry Student Advice

My experience of studying whilst managing a chronic illness

Shona Sawhney, fifth year BDS student, Barts and the London, explains how she has been studying for her degree whilst managing a chronic illness and shares her advice for anyone in a similar situation.

In my third year of dental school when my clinical experience was just beginning, I began to notice changes in my health. Over a period of 3 months, extreme fatigue and stiffness slowly progressed to severe joint pain. Not only was I struggling with exams and passing gateways, but even my day-to-day routine outside of university. 

The potential impact of my symptoms became apparent when I was told by a specialist, “You really need to think about another career.” I was devastated but this reaction from others would come to be the norm.  I had worked exceptionally hard to gain my place at dental school, and through a chronic illness over which I had no control, I felt my future plans slowly slip away.

Dentistry is an ever-changing profession, and whilst this can be exciting, it can also be incredibly stressful. For this reason, I always tried to ensure I had an outlet to relieve that stress, this was mainly through exercise. However, as my condition worsened, I struggled to maintain these outlets, I felt I had no way to relieve the stress I was under. 

When starting 4th year, I had been beaten by the suggestions of a “career change,” and that “dentistry isn’t for you anymore.” I accepted that I would be unable to do what my peers were doing. The thought of me completing my crowns gateway test that I had yet to sit, was almost laughable. I can honestly say that I have never felt more alone. 

Every time I entered the clinic, I would inform the tutors of my condition, which I found particularly hard. This is not what I wanted to be known for or defined by and feared I would yet again be told this profession is not for me. I was genuinely quite shocked when I was asked by a tutor in clinics one day, “What can we do to help you?”. I almost cried, I felt like an outsider to the profession for a long time, and I finally felt heard and listened to. 

This highlighted to me the importance of accessibility in dentistry, not just for our patients but also dental professionals. When seeking advice from a number of tutors and staff, I saw how the simplest of changes made a drastic impact on not only how I felt physically after clinics but also mentally too. For example, seeing oral surgery patients exclusively in the afternoon rather than the morning meant that my body and mind were prepared if I was required to perform an extraction. To quote the incredible Mohamed Jemni, I noticed that “The disability is not the problem, the accessibility is the problem.” (Jemni, 2013).

In hindsight, I now see just how hard I was being on myself. Initially, when my health condition deteriorated, I would force myself to do things even if I knew that my body was not physically up to performing the actions. And if I could not carry out the task, I got mad and angry at myself. It was a perpetual self-destructive cycle. Learning to celebrate the small victories and being kinder to myself has helped me manage my conditions, instead of belittling myself, and saying “you must pass this,” I instead say, “I am proud of you for trying your best.” 

I was often told that dentistry was not for me due to my condition, and this is not true in the slightest. There is a place for those with chronic illnesses to be key members of the dental community. My advice to those in a similar circumstance is to give yourself the same kindness you would give to others in your situation and do not be embarrassed to speak out and ask for help or adjustments to make dentistry more accessible. Lastly, to never give up on your aspirations despite what others may say, because to have a disability does not mean you miss ability; with the right support and adjustments, anything is attainable. 

Jemni, M., 2013. Breaking The Silence Of Deafness.

Shona was a speaker at the Disability Awareness in Dentistry webinar, organised following a shared commitment by the CGDent, FGDP and BDA to promote equality, diversity and inclusivity in the profession. A free recording of the webinar is available to CGDent members and ProDental subscribers and comes with one hour’s CPD (a £20 fee applies for non-members/non-subscribers).

Author bio

I am currently in my final year of Dentistry at Barts and the London. Within dental school I have enjoyed seeing patients from all different walks of life. I really enjoy talking to patients about their dental anxieties and building their confidence to visit the dentist regularly and improve their oral health, which has given me a future interest in community dentistry!

Outside of university life I run an Instagram page (@shocreates) to highlight my digital art related to chronic illness, and advocate for disability within dentistry. I also love to work out and try different cuisines around the world!

Shona Sawhney

This student advice blog was originally published by FGDP(UK) in April 2021 and has been republished by the College of General Dentistry with the author’s permission.

College of General Dentistry Student Advice

My Situational Judgement Test from home

Katie Huane, fifth year BDS Student, University of Manchester, passes on her top tips for making the most of your time during self-isolation and keeping up with your peers.

In the run-up to the lockdown 2.0, my biggest worry was gym closures meaning I’d be back to jumping around doing HIIT workouts in my front room with my heaviest dumbbell weighing a measly 1.5kg. Little did I know I would be stuck in my house for the next 12 days, unable to go for walks outdoors, get a take-away Pret hot chocolate and worst of all, miss critical clinical time at the Dental Hospital. 

When I first got the notification from the NHS Track and Trace app, I was stunned. I racked my brain tirelessly to understand how and where I could’ve contacted someone with Coronavirus. Still to this day, I have no idea.  

In the coming week, I had planned an acrylic denture delivery, a crown fit, an oral surgery clinical skills session (practising raising flaps on pig heads!) and my DFT Situational Judgement Exam – a heavy week to say the least. 

I was initially frustrated at the prospect of missing all of these things and was worried about what it would mean for my progression as a dental student – getting sufficient patient contact on clinics is always a concern, especially as patients fear the hospital in the current climate. 

Having contacted the dental school regarding my isolation, I had to tackle the next task of how to sit my SJT exam from home (which would otherwise be sat at a Pearson Vue test centre). I had to fill out a reasonable adjustment form and hope for the best. 

Luckily I had two days until I was due to sit the exam. This exam was set to determine my rank out of all the graduating dentists in the UK and hence the place I would live and practice for my Dental Foundation Training for a whole year. It could be on my doorstep (Manchester) or it could be as far as the Isle of Man (no pressure). 

After a string of emails to and from the test centre, a software issue, a borrowed laptop and a full bookcase covered in plain-white bed sheets, I sat my 2.15pm SJT exam from home. 

It’s a long wait until we get the results (June 2021), so in the meantime I will be focusing on other aspects of Dental School, my fitness and most importantly…Christmas! 

Below I have outlined some tips for other dental students struggling with self-isolation and how to have a productive fortnight indoors. 

Top tips for self-isolation

1.    Mindset is key 

Overall, lockdown has been smooth-sailing for me and I believe I owe it to my positive attitude. Some things I told myself repeatedly were:  

•    You’ll be drilling and filling for the rest of your life – don’t panic over a couple of clinic sessions missed. 
•    These things happen for a reason, whether it’s to rest and recover or that you didn’t do enough baking and DIY in the first lockdown.
•    2 weeks off Uni doesn’t mean you won’t graduate!
•    You’ll look back at this period of your life when you are working a full time job and wish you made the most of the chance to stay in bed on frosty mornings!

2.    Keep yourself busy 

Some things that have kept me occupied include: 

•    Webinars (some of my top picks are the Dentinal Tubules Webinar series for dental students, Dentinet Student webinars, and Finlay Sutton’s denture series on YouTube). 
•    Writing/getting published – this is just one way you can enhance their professional profile as a dental student and pass some time during your isolation period.
•    Entering undergraduate essay competitions. 
•    Practice your manual dexterity in other ways – painting, carving teeth made from wax, etc. 
•    Catch up on lectures. 
•    Keep up-to-date with important documents on COVID-19 in dentistry to keep yourself and others safe. 

3.    Avoid social media 

FOMO = Fear Of Missing Out. Throughout my isolation period, I’ve consciously put my phone away which not only makes me much more productive, but it also makes me feel 100x better for doing it too. You gain NOTHING from seeing your dental school peers on clinic treating patients and doing all the things you should be doing. Easier said than done but make sure you are limiting time spent on Instagram, Facebook and all other social media platforms. 

4.    Get moving 

Nothing sets me up for a more productive day than a workout at 8am and quick stretch after. Not only does it boost my mood but getting out of your desk chair does wonders for your back! 

5.    Routine 

Keeping a consistent morning and bedtime routine is key. Wake up, workout and eat breakfast all before you turn your phone on in the morning. Get in bed nice and early that evening, read a book and sleep. Repeat. 

Normality feels like a distant memory but I can’t wait to get back to the dental school to see some familiar faces, both patients and peers…5 days and counting!

Author bio

I’m currently a final year dental student at the University of Manchester. Over the past couple of years at dental school, I have discovered a particular interest in Paediatrics and Oral Surgery. I am also President of the Dentman Global Oral Health Forum, a volunteering society committed to providing oral care globally as well as within the local community. 

Outside of dentistry, I love experiencing new cultures and have an Instagram page dedicated to travel as well as university life (@flightsandfillings). I was lucky enough to spend two consecutive summers in New York working on a children’s summer camp as a swimming teacher. 

I’m also into fitness, and if I’m not in the dental hospital, you can probably find me in the gym!

Katie Huane

This student advice blog was originally published by FGDP(UK) in November 2020 and has been republished by the College of General Dentistry with the author’s permission.

College of General Dentistry Student Advice

Getting back to dentistry

Hamna Khan, fifth year BDS Student, University of Manchester, gives you her tips for a successful new academic year after an extended break from clinical practice.

It’s that time of year again for us to buy our planners, top up our stationery and wipe the dust off our clinic shoes! Only this time, things are going to be a little bit different. It’s completely normal to feel anxious or nervous about the upcoming academic year, so here are some tips on how to settle back into the operator chair and kick-start your studying.

Online teaching

Without a doubt, this will be the new normal and adjusting to this style is vital. You will need to learn to adapt to online teaching, so get to know your new virtual tools. Our future studies are expected to be this hybrid-learning model so embracing this as soon as possible will boost your chances of success. Whether sitting in a cafe or at your bedroom desk is how you work best, meshing your ideal study surroundings with your university teaching this year is how you will engage and absorb the most information. 

Reviewing theory

Not having the time won’t be an acceptable excuse this year so if you haven’t already, start looking back at previous years’ notes. Brush up on those topics you don’t feel as confident in and know procedures inside out so there’s no time to waste when faced with one. 

Articles

Whilst extra reading was important before to complement your studies, reading recent articles now is more valued than ever. It’s key to stay up to date with the latest Covid-19 guidelines and the pandemic’s ever evolving impact on Dentistry as a profession. Regardless of your year of study, Covid-19 will have changed aspects of your degree and it’s good to know how and why. The FGDP website and various social media channels prove to be great resources to help with this.  

Use your time wisely

Being back at University will definitely mean life’s on the go again but you will almost certainly still have spare time and many hours off campus. Planning in advance and time boxing will help you maintain focus on your studies. Also, breaking up your work into smaller chunks can help you adjust back to life as a dental student. Aside from your dental learning, it’s essential to stay productive and not slip back into the laid-back routine many of us will be familiar with after having so many months away. Pencilling in regular physical activity to stay fit or volunteer work where help is needed are just a couple of the many things you can do. 

Pace yourself

Many of us will be eager to get back into the thick of things but just know it’s okay to not get that alginate impression first time like you used to be able to do! It would be ideal to continue from where you left off but we’ve all missed out on clinical experience and we’ve all been away from the drill just as long as each other. You may need to do some extra practice to get rid of your rustiness, but don’t be too hard on yourself because before you know it you’ll have bounced back! 

Find your support system

Dentistry can be challenging as it is and confiding and leaning on others is something that is part and parcel with the degree. During these unprecedented times, spending quality time with friends and family or anyone who you feel uplifts and encourages you will support you in your journey and enable you to carry on. Although our University experience is likely to be different to last year, it is still important to embrace student life as much as possible, either in person – respecting the relevant Government guidelines, or virtually. Engaging in the campus community remains a powerful and long-lasting benefit of these five years at University.

I hope this helped you feel more at ease and good luck with the year!

Author bio

I am currently in my final year of Dentistry at the University of Manchester. Over the past four years, I’ve gained insight into a variety of different fields and look forward to expanding my understanding in order to find the path best suited to me. I enjoy building rapports with patients and improving their quality of life through dental care.

Outside of University, I spend time with my family and friends and enjoy travelling abroad but also exploring the scenic places the UK has to offer!

Hamna Khan

This student advice blog was originally published by FGDP(UK) in October 2020 and has been republished by the College of General Dentistry with the author’s permission.

College of General Dentistry Student Advice

Mannequins to mania

Aavan K Matharu, fourth year BDS student, Trinity College Dublin, gives her key pointers for a smooth transition to your clinical study years.

Introduction:

The transition from pre-clinical years to clinical years is one that many dental students look forward to. It becomes a momentous occasion where we can apply all the theory and practical skills, we have learned from the mannequin lab to actual patients and clinical situations. However, this overwhelming realization comes with its demands and challenges. As I reflect on my own experience, there is no doubt that I have learned a great deal not only about myself and how to make my clinical experience fulfilling but also how to tackle these challenges.  

To help you achieve a smooth transition, here are a few pointers I have put together to tackle the clinical years to come.

Bracing the Clinical Experience:

1.Dive deep: As we start clinics, it is normal to experience nerves and opt for simpler procedures. However, delving deeper and putting yourself in clinical scenarios within limitations, which test your knowledge, confidence, and clinical skills, are critical to your development early on as a student. It is important to encourage your learning and try to make the most of dental school while you are there as clinical time is already so limited due to the pandemic.

2. The Plus 2 Rule: Attempt to do procedures at least twice or more during your clinical years. Chances are that when you do a procedure for the first time, you will make mistakes and learn a lot from it. However, when you do the same procedure, for a second time on a different patient, you will be faced with other challenges and essentially a different way to apply your knowledge. Although this can be challenging depending on the amount of time you are given for clinics, try your level best to achieve this as it will teach you resilience and problem solving earlier on.

Pre-Clinical Advice:

  1. Know the why to a procedure: When creating a treatment plan/preparing for a procedure such as a composite filling or root canal, it is critical to know WHY you are doing it. Understanding the importance and order of what you are doing creates confidence and allows you to reflect on the benefits/risks of the procedure as well as the ethical reasoning behind what you are doing for the patient.
  2. Ask a friend lifeline: Discussing topics with friends/upper years beforehand can be very helpful. See what your friends have done, what their process was in doing the procedure, stressful parts, etc. Discuss how they communicated with patients, common mistakes, and how they organized themselves to get a better understanding of what to expect and how you can learn from their experiences to ameliorate your own. 
  3. Keeping an orderly fashion: One of the most helpful things I learned was to organize my instruments in the order I was going to use them. This can really help in stressful times when you don’t want to be looking around for instruments and materials but are rather using them as you go along.
  4. Stick to the essentials: It is important to understand which instruments can be filtered out during a procedure. During a composite filling, for example, there is no need to have the entire operative kit laid out.  Instead, narrow down the essential instruments to items such as a mirror, contra-angle sickle probe, flat plastic, and micro brushes, etc. This will create more space on your bracket table and will reduce the overwhelming feeling when looking for instruments.

I hope these tips/tricks are useful to you during your exciting progression into clinical years. Remember to embrace your transition kindly and to focus on yourself as a growing clinician. All the best!

Author bio

“I am a fourth-year dental student presently attending Trinity College Dublin. Over the past three years, I have developed a keen interest in Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry. With one year of dental school remaining, I would love to be able to expand my knowledge in regards to what these fields offer by performing research with specialists and attending relevant conferences.

Apart from dentistry, I enjoy drawing/sketching and immersing myself in astronomy and cosmology. I also adore traveling and visiting multiple countries within four different continents has given me the opportunity to appreciate new cultures, food, and languages.”

Aavan K Matharu

This student advice blog was originally published by FGDP(UK) in August 2020 and updated in May 2021, and has been republished by the College of General Dentistry with the author’s permission.

College of General Dentistry Student Advice

Keeping it clinical

Kiri Paul, fourth year BDS student at King’s College London, explains how she has been maintaining clinical skills during the pandemic.

Currently we are all in a situation that implores us to put our drills down, to step back from our passion for a while for the safety of our patients. A strange concept for this profession that is used to being so hands on when it comes to helping people. Naturally, we all take a break from dentistry now and again whether it be the summer holidays or a half term, but nothing like what we currently face. It is clear that we are missing out on clinical exposure right now, so I thought to myself what can I do to stay connected to my clinical skills? 

So, here are some things I have been doing during this time to keep it clinical: 
 

Clinical evaluation 
Right now, it is important to know where you are at clinically – at King’s we keep a quota sheet that helps us keep track of how many fillings or dentures we have completed. It would be a great idea to draw something like this up using your clinical diary or memory.  It is important to self-evaluate your clinical experience so far, what procedures do you feel confident and less confident in. This evaluation and visual representation of what you have completed so far will help you pinpoint what you need to focus on when we return. 
 

Reaching out 
We are lucky to be part of this great field where clinical professional development is a way of life. The dental community supports one and other so make sure you are making the most of this during this time. Fully immerse yourself into the community through joining dental community organizations, watching Instagram lives, join Facebook discussion groups and watch webinars. Take this opportunity to learn some new clinical techniques and stay up to date for when you arrive back in the clinic. 

Currently, I am part of the Dentinal Tubules community where they have provided a wealth of support and free learning opportunities with a fun twist during this time that I will forever be grateful for. My university community has provided me with daily case discussion forums followed up with an online meeting to actively practice treatment planning. This could be something you take up with a group of dental students to help keep your skills sharp. The FGDP is a great place to gain firsthand experience and support through student blogs and student Bites so be sure to check it out.

Keep your back, neck and arm muscles strong
Check out licensed personal trainers on YouTube or Instagram for some great work outs you can do at home with everyday items to keep those clinical muscles in check. 
 

Manual dexterity 
Doing everyday tasks to keep your manual dexterity going strong is a great idea. I am getting back into my hobby of painting. If painting is not for you – give manual dexterity tasks a quick Google and have a glance at the list.
 

Skill up 
We all have a passion for dentistry and this circumstance gives us some time to focus in on those topics/ papers we find interesting. Research into new areas. Also, keep in mind that some course providers are offering lock down discounts.   
 

Balanced days
I have found it is so important to balance my day with not just learning but with other things I enjoy. When I am not keeping it clinical – I am working out, cooking, baking, painting or doing brain training games with my white German Shepherd. 

I wish you well and hope that this blog post has given you some ideas on how to keep it clinical. 

Author bio

I am currently studying in my 4th year of Dental school in the heart of London at King’s College London. During my time at university, I have immersed myself into the community by joining a number of committees and student bodies. I have enjoyed setting up extracurricular academic opportunities, representing the student body voice and working towards making the faculty more environmentally sustainable. My time at University has reinforced my passion for dentistry and I plan to work as a GDP for a few years before embarking on a specialisation. 

In my free time you would usually find me socialising, teaching, reading, shooting clays, meditating or taking long walks with my white German Shepherd, Bella.

This student advice blog was originally published by FGDP(UK) in July 2020 and has been republished by the College of General Dentistry with the author’s permission.

College of General Dentistry Student Advice

From rubber dam isolations to social isolation: a dental student’s perspective

Angela Li, first year MChD student at the University of Leeds, shares advice on successful online learning from home.

The unprecedented coronavirus pandemic is having a large effect on dental student life, impacting on our studies, social life and wellbeing.

I spent the first few weeks worried and unproductive, not knowing what tomorrow could bring and constantly being bombarded with news updates and anxious messages from fellow students. We were worried about missing clinical experience, unsure about whether to go home or remain in university accommodation and wondering if summer exams would be cancelled. Around the same time as all of this, we also received our February exam results – some students had the added stress of resits and hoping they could still progress to next year.

Unlike students on most other courses, non-final year dental students are still waiting to hear if and how exams will still take place. This seems bothersome but makes sense when we remember our clinical responsibility and professional accreditation requirements. It is tempting to delay revision until further exam clarification is given, but this may only increase future stress, since we will need to learn the material sooner or later. As the next generation of dentists, we should study not only for the sake of exams, but for our own clinical competency and most importantly, for our patients.

Universities have migrated to online learning, and although this allows for greater learning flexibility, it is much easier to get distracted at home and lose our sense of routine. Many of us are accustomed to revising in the library with fewer disturbances and structuring our day around attending lectures and other activities. It has taken time to adjust my learning habits, but I have found these changes beneficial in terms of improving my mindset and productivity.

Here are a couple of my top tips to help you make the most of your home learning:

1) Be organised
Creating a to-do list is a great way of organising your tasks. I also find it useful to assign specific tasks to each section of the day (early/later morning, afternoon and evening), rather than to rigid time slots, allowing you to organise each section in your day as you go along. Setting up a distraction-free work zone at home is a key part in allowing for focused work, and I find productivity apps that use the pomodoro technique particularly effective.

2) Be proactive!
I’ve recently discovered a world of online dental webinars and Instagram live sessions led by top clinicians. Topics range from digital dentistry to facial aesthetics and from implants to biomimetics, which are highly exciting areas often not taught at undergraduate level. For webinars, I recommend signing up for the ‘Lockdown 2020’ series organised by Dr Clive Schmulian and the weekly Smile Dental Academy webinars. These can encourage the discovery of new interests within the field of dentistry and significantly helps to increase motivation.

In these uncertain times, it’s important to not get overwhelmed by all the changes around us. Instead, we would benefit from using this time as an opportunity for learning, personal growth, and setting goals for our next academic year. Before we know it, we’ll be back in dental school fitting rubber dams to phantom heads in no time.

Author bio

I am currently a first year MChD student and dental year representative at the University of Leeds. Through my experiences so far, I have developed an interest in Restorative Dentistry, and I would like to explore this area further through undertaking work shadowing, attending courses and getting involved with academia. Following graduation, I would like to gain experience as a Dental Core Trainee.

In my free time, I enjoy playing badminton, hiking and travelling.

This student advice blog was originally published by FGDP(UK) in July 2020 and has been republished by the College of General Dentistry with the author’s permission.

College of General Dentistry Student Advice

Finding your feet in fitness and well-being whilst studying dentistry

Sumeet Sandhu, fourth year BDS student at Peninsula Dental School, gives you some advice about looking after yourself and staying fit whilst studying.

As dental students, we can easily get caught up in our studies that we can forget to look after ourselves. By being in our ‘dental school bubble’, we tend to dismiss the other opportunities available to us from being at University, such as joining a club. 

Well-being does not have to be a chore, and you do not have to be a gym-junkie either. Health, fitness and well-being gets put into this ‘box’ so easily that it becomes an unattractive stigma to some people, because they don’t want to be ‘that person’. Don’t get me wrong, I love wearing all the stereotypical sports club kit, but not to show-off; more-so I am proud to be part of another community, and want to encourage others to consider trying it too. 

We have all heard about the worst pain in dentistry – back pain! Staying active can strengthen our muscles to withstand and counteract the long periods of sitting down, as well as improving our posture. 

Not only this, but the mindset that accompanies exercise when it comes to persistence and endurance will be beneficial in long days on clinic to build adaptability in times of physical and mental stress in our careers. 

Undoubtedly, we will be faced with busy clinics and lecture days in which lunch may be forgotten or dismissed. In times like these, it is important to know what energy-dense nutritious food will be able to keep us going, even if it is a quick snack in-between patients (within your 4 acid attacks a day, of course).

Staying fit in body and mind whilst studying can have many benefits; namely its ability to decrease stress and anxiety- something we are all too familiar with in our demanding course. It enables you to escape the world of dentistry for a few hours a week, speak to people outside of our profession and gain transferrable skills.

Here are my top tips on improving your physical and mental well-being whilst studying dentistry, but also for beyond…

Make it sustainable 
Your health should be a priority, but this does not mean it becomes your only focus. Studying dentistry alone provides a busy schedule, and you want to be able to make a lifestyle choice, not an item on a checklist. My tip for making it sustainable is to plan your exercise into your week on a Sunday evening, for the week ahead. 

Keep it real
Organising your time to exercise is one thing, but actually doing it is another. Motivate yourself by keeping your workouts manageable and bitesize – you do not have to run a marathon in the first week. Set yourself small goals for each workout, even if it is just to clear your head and escape reality, and just go for it. 

Find what works for you
Fitness does not have to be running as fast as you can, or lifting twice your bodyweight. There are so many other aspects to fitness, for example balance or flexibility, which people may not consider (yoga is a great tool to work on these). You can build all-round strength from rock-climbing for example. Maybe try participating in sports, either for the competitive atmosphere or community. At the end of the day, keep exploring until you find something for you. It will happen and that’s when it will become part of your routine organically. 

Mindset is key
Believe in yourself and what your mind and body can achieve, it is amazing how much you can learn about yourself. One thing I do to improve my mindset is a form of reflection (yes, the buzzword), by writing out my ‘gratitudes’ and ‘positive affirmations’ each morning. Yoga or meditation can really help with mindset too – if you don’t know where to start use videos or an app to guide you. These mental exercises alone will improve your mood and well-being daily. 

Food is fuel
Nutrition is such a key part of fitness, not just exercise. This tip is a short one, it is all about balance. Do not restrict yourself from anything (especially in exam season) and eat nutritious foods most of the time. You need food and drink just to function, as well as all the tasks we do in a day – so don’t overthink it. Try new things (go vegan for a week?) and eat what you enjoy.

Enjoy the empowerment 
Looking after your physical and mental well-being requires self-care and resilience. That is an achievement in itself. Be proud of the little wins that come with developing your health and fitness and don’t be afraid to share them with others, you might just be their inspiration for them to start looking after their well-being too!

It may feel like a juggling act at the beginning. When you start considering all of the above, it may sound daunting to even begin. My tip is to acknowledge that it will be hard but listen to your mind and body and rest if needed. If you commit a little bit of time each day you will realise that you will eventually manage to fit it into your schedule without even thinking about it. 

I hope these tips help you consider investing some time into your well-being and exploring what’s out there and what your body can do. Good Luck.

Author bio

Embarking on my final year of my dental degree is an exciting experience, though I am still exploring my aspirations beyond this. I am aiming to apply for DF1 and DCT in the future to find which speciality fits me best. 

When not studying dentistry, I enjoy sports and fitness as well as art, travel and socialising. I am currently creating a blog to share my experiences in all these areas. 

I have been part of my University Netball Club for 3 years as a player, captain and committee member. This passion for sports led to me winning Sportswoman of the Year at the Future of Dentistry Awards 2019. I was also the Sports Secretary for Dentsoc 2017/18.

I also enjoy writing and have published a joint paper in the Journal of Education Of Primary Care.

To help other students with self-directed learning, myself and 3 other colleagues created the educational website revisedental.com. 

This student advice blog was originally published by FGDP(UK) in June 2020 and has been republished by the College of General Dentistry with the author’s permission.

College of General Dentistry Student Advice

Taking the big step – student to dentist

Dr Janine Brooks MBE, dental coach and mentor, offers essential advice to help you flourish as you take your first steps into general practice.

1. Celebrate

The day you become registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) is a great day, wonderful, exciting, full of promise and a little bit scary. Suddenly you are no longer a dental student, you are a dentist, with all the privileges and responsibilities that brings. Savour the moment and celebrate, you made it. You are one of a small number of dental professionals, but never forget that we are in service to our patients, not the other way around. 

2. Humility

You have just spent five years of your life at dental school. You know lots of ‘stuff’, particularly about oral health, operative techniques, general health, how to restore teeth, and more. However, you are the newest members of the profession and you need to build your experience and skill. This takes time, be humble enough to know that. Be respectful of your dental nurse’s knowledge and skills and you will become a good team.

3. Networks

Dentistry can be a lonely place, so build your networks from day one. Keep in contact with friends from dental school, make new friends amongst your fellow foundation trainees. Go along to meetings, CPD events, join CGDent and other specialist organisations. Social media is fine, but you really cannot beat face to face networks.  

4. Take it slowly 

Needing to work more quickly is often something that new dentists find very difficult.  You will get there, but it will take you some time and some people need more time than others. Your educational supervisor (ES) knows this – they were a new dentist once. Expect to be slow at first, talk this over with your ES and your fellow foundation trainees. Alongside working clinically more quickly and efficiently, it’s important to take time to learn about NHS regulations, what is included and what is not. The business of running a dental practice is complex and there is a lot to know about employment law, how to recruit and retain good staff. Watch how others in the practice manage their time, this will help you to work quickly and efficiently with your patients.  

5. Be professional 

Even as a student it was important to be professional, but now it’s crucial.  As part of a profession there are standards we must adhere to. Remember you do not stop being a professional outside work, it’s not the uniform you put on, it’s who you are.  Particularly in the age of social media, your poor behaviour can get you into trouble and being a good clinician will not be enough.  Professionals know it is part of who they are to be honest, truthful, uphold confidentiality and act with integrity at all times. 

6. Listen 

Now you are working with more patients and more colleagues you need to sharpen your listening skills. Listening will help to make sure you do not miss important information whether that be from your patients, your educational supervisor or on training days. Listen for words, the spaces in between, what’s not said, body language, emotions and values. Look at people when they are speaking to you, if you don’t you are missing some of the communication and you are not really listening.

7.  Ask questions 

Alongside listening, your foundation year is the time to continually ask questions.  Hone your skills with your patients by asking questions that will give you useful answers. Ask questions of everyone; your educational supervisor, your TPD, your nurse, your practice manager and the tutors at your training days. Ask questions that are open rather than closed, begin questions with What? How? Who? When? Where?  Use why? sparingly, it can seem like an accusation.

8. Keep learning  

You have completed your degree, but that is only the start, there is so much more to learn. You need to learn to put what you did as a student into everyday practice. You need to learn what it takes to run a dental practice. You need to learn how to work with the NHS and the commissioning teams. You need to learn about dentistry, which is a highly technical, constantly evolving profession. 

9. Boundaries 

Now that you are a dentist you need to think about and beware of boundaries.  In your first year you may feel unsure of taking the lead in your surgery. You may want to be friends with all the other staff, go out for drinks, meals and socialising. However, be wary of overdoing this, particularly with staff in more junior positions, especially with your dental nurse. You need to have a professional relationship which must be maintained if you are to provide good patient care. Boundaries with patients are particularly important. It is generally thought unwise to treat family and friends, this makes the therapeutic relationship blurred and difficult. At no time should you begin a romantic relationship with a patient, that is a serious abuse of your position.

10. Breathe

It’s important that you take time out to breathe. I mean to have time to enjoy your life and your other interests and to make time for family and friends. You will be putting in the ground work of balance and that’s important throughout your career.

Author bio

After qualifying from Birmingham Dental School in the early 80′s, I spent my whole clinical career in Community Dentistry, the last 17 years as a Clinical Director working in Herefordshire and South Warwickshire. 

I have a portfolio career. Currently I am an educational associate for the General Dental Council; a coach for the Professional Support Unit, Health Education England, Thames Valley; an expert witness, lead clinical tutor for the Law and Ethics module for University of Bristol BUOLD programme; Trustee of the Dentists Health Support Trust and a Fellow for the Society of British Dental Nurses.  

I launched my own coaching and training consultancy, Dentalia, in July 2011, providing coaching to dental professionals I am a founding partner of the Dental Coaching Academy and in December 2016 I launched Dental Mentors UK with a colleague.  

I write extensively and have published four books, plus a number of articles and papers over the years.

Dr Janine Brooks MBE

This student advice blog was originally published by FGDP(UK) in August 2019 and has been republished by the College of General Dentistry with the author’s permission.

College of General Dentistry Careers, Student Advice

Specialising in restorative dentistry

Dr Tom Willan, General Dental Practitioner in Yorkshire, describes the career journey that led him to specialise in restorative dentistry.

I qualified from Leeds university in 2011 and began working in general practice in West Yorkshire. The variety and flexibility of life as a GDP appealed to me and after my Longitudinal Dental Foundation Training years; where I had posts in orthodontic practice, community Dental Care and general practice I began working life as an associate. 

After working in a busy NHS practice in Leeds I moved to my current practice, Horbury Dental Care, in a small town outside of Wakefield. Horbury Dental Care is a large practice with 10 surgeries and a referral centre for implant dentistry, restorative dentistry, treatment under sedation and periodontics. Shortly after working here I felt it was the right stage in my career to consider undertaking further postgraduate to improve my skills and further my career. 

I am glad that I was patient; waiting 5 years before undertaking further postgraduate training; as I felt that gave me real life experience as core foundation for me to build my knowledge from. I researched the numerous post graduate courses on offer and chose the FGDP Diploma in Restorative Dentistry. The course had been thoroughly recommended by colleagues and I felt offered a fantastic blend of academic, clinical and hands on experience. 

The course consisted of 14 modules where small group teaching, lectures, hands on teaching and assignments developed my knowledge in all aspects of day to day restorative dentistry. Periodontics, Endodontics, Composite Bonding, Crown and Bridgework, the restorative aspects of implant dentist and prosthodontics were all covered. 
I found the course thoroughly enjoyable and I feel I have gained confidence and developed as a practitioner as a direct result. I found the course days enjoyable and developed a strong bond with my cohort. I surprised even myself with how I enjoyed the written assignments as they were all on relevant topics and helped contribute to my clinical work. 

The course was assessed by the assignments and also clinical casework. I submitted 8 case reports and 20 mini case reports on clinical cases from my practice over the 2 years. These were challenging but again developed my confidence as they were constructively analysed by my course tutor, who was approachable and very generous with his time to support my learning when needed. 

I was pleased to find out in December 2018 that the hard work had paid off and I had passed my final case assessments and I have now been awarded the FGDP(UK) Diploma in Restorative Dentistry. I would whole heartedly recommend the restorative diploma to any GDP looking to improve their clinical skills, knowledge and confidence.

Author bio

I qualified from Leeds university in 2011 and have worked in general practice in Yorkshire since then. I currently work at Horbury Dental Care, a large practice near Wakefield which is a referral centre for implant dentistry, restorative dentistry, treatment under sedation and periodontics. I recently decided to specialise in restorative dentistry and after two years of study have now been awarded the FGDP(UK) Postgraduate Diploma in Restorative Dentistry.

Dr Tom Willan

This student advice blog was originally published by FGDP(UK) in June 2019 and has been republished by the College of General Dentistry with the author’s permission.

College of General Dentistry Student Advice

Experience working in different care settings boosts confidence

Dr Harriet Jones reflects on how a varied early career in secondary and tertiary care settings has given her increased confidence in her work as a primary care dentist.

Having graduated from Newcastle in 2016 I carried out Foundation training in a small mixed private and NHS practice. Following this I worked as a Dental Core Trainee in the speciality of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery. I am now currently working part time as a Community Dental Officer and also in NHS practice.

I think gaining an experience in a wide range of areas of dentistry is essential. Having a dental degree opens up so many avenues and the number of career options available is vast. The start to my career has allowed me to experience dentistry in different settings and see a small section of the scope of dentistry.

Gaining experience working in secondary and tertiary care settings has given me increased confidence working in primary care. Working within practice it is inevitable that referrals will need to be made. Having experience working at the receiving end of referrals has increased my ability to refer appropriately. For example, Oral and Maxillofacial referrals can be sent with different grades of urgency and I feel I have an increased ability to understand the appropriate referral to make when I see a patient in general practice.

Working within different settings has also given me the opportunity to work with a variety of dental colleagues who have different interests and specialities. These links have enabled me to organise teaching events for general dental practitioners to maximise learning opportunities. Interacting with colleagues from a variety of specialities allows you to keep up to date with dental advances which is essential in the dental world. Overall, I think this has had a beneficial effect on my ability to treat patients with varying needs. 

It is important when working in practice not to become isolated. I work in a large mixed NHS and private practice with a close group of dentists in a supportive environment. This allows us to comfortably discuss cases and gain advice where needed. On graduating and completing foundation training I still feel the need to gain a second opinion often and working within a supportive environment allows you to do this. I am the Secretary of our regional FGDP(UK) team which involves organising CPD events for dentists within our area. This allows me to meet local dentists and also with our speakers who work within different specialities. Attending Local Dental Committee meetings is also an excellent way to network with local dentists and have a voice regarding important matters and issues as part of a committee of dentists.

Dentistry is a very exciting career with so many possible avenues to take. I think it is important to embrace new opportunities and interact with dental colleagues in order to improve skills and maximise job satisfaction.

Author bio

I qualified from Newcastle in 2016 and gained my MJDF in 2018. I completed my Foundation training in general practice and then went on to work as a Dental Core Trainee in the speciality of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery. I now work in an NHS practice and am a part time Community Dental Officer

This student advice blog was originally published by FGDP(UK) in March 2019 and has been republished by the College of General Dentistry with the author’s permission.