When I graduated from Birmingham in 2003 the dental career pathway was simple.
Either you would practise in hospital as a specialist via the (previously) insular MFDS route or you would work in general dental practice.
If you were lucky you might specialise at some later date if you developed a longer-term passion for a specific field and you felt it was time to limit your practice. How times have changed for young dentists in the UK and for the better!
Now two-year foundation training is the pre-requisite for all and the options between a hospital and general practice career are much less polarised.
The main benefit is that young dentists have longer and more opportunity to be flexible. That flexibility extends to both the type of dental career they wish to pursue and the way they choose to pursue that journey.
These are exciting times for the young dentists of today.
A career in a dental practice is no longer an isolated route. The development of the innovative MJDF at the RCSEng and the vast array of FGDP (UK) led programmes of study, which synchronise with other academic institutions programmes nationwide, allow all young (and old) dentists and dental professionals to maximise their potential. This can be carried out in a way the dentist chooses, at a time and in a way that suits their specific individual requirements (including fitting around family life).
In my case, I wanted to pursue a restorative pathway. I now work as a dentist with full-time, dedicated special interest in restorative dentistry, which includes placement and restoration of dental implants.
I love going to work and the choice of work locations available to me and the flexibility.
I can dedicate as much or as little time that I choose to a particular restorative discipline whilst working in combination with other likeminded dentists.
Most of all I've never touched a UDA in my life which truly does put me in control of my everyday clinical dentistry.
Best of all, patients love the dedicated and tailored care they receive.
My advice to any young dentist today is simply when going for a prospective post ask the the practice owner/lead dentist/ consultant or whoever is interviewing: 'How can this post help me to fulfil my career aspirations in addition to helping you grow your business in all directions?' If the response is weak or vague, I suggest a polite acknowledgement and kindly move on to the next prospective employer who can realise your potential in the modern dental career pathways.
It's a hugely exciting time for young dentists to realise their own potential in dentistry. So go out and find your own route to the dental career you have always wanted.
Kevin Harrison has a full time special interest in Restorative Dental Care. Since graduating from Birmingham in 2003, he has undertaken GPT in Edinburgh (the precursor to Foundation Training) and worked in busy hospital environments in addition to private dental practice since 2007.
He is currently an examiner and contributor to the newly-developed Membership in Primary Dental Care examination at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. In addition he is a board member for West Midlands division of the FGDP (UK).