 This position gave me the chance to return to working within a busy general dental practice. There has been an opportunity to care for staff, students and affiliates of the university, primarily within the NHS. Individuals ranged from a variety of age groups and social backgrounds. It has been possible to assess the longevity of my clinical work over this period and build an excellent rapport with my patients and their families. It has been very satisfying treating my patients on a regular basis and seeing their trust in me grow. Clinically, I furthered my experience in all aspects of general dental care and introduced new techniques to my practice, such as rotary endodontics.

The oral surgery position involves SHOs having regular MOS clinics, biopsy clinics, outpatient clinic sessions and theatre sessions with 1-to-1 teaching/supervision by oral surgery specialists or consultants. The on-call commitments involve covering ward patients, participating in major cases with plastics/ENT specialties, trauma surgeries as well as covering A&E for 3 other Essex spoke-hospitals.

Experience of acute and long-term management of trauma, developmental abnormalities, acute infection, child dental health and paediatric restorative care under LA and inhalation sedation, medically compromised patients and all round communication techniques

Broaden general professional training by supplementary experience in geriatric care, special care (physical and learning disability), domiciliary care, sedation, orthodontics, prison dentistry, mobile dental van (schools fissure sealant program)

Experience in MOS especially removal of impacted teeth, surgicals, oral and facial medicine and oncology. Complementary responsibilities involved assisting on major O/MF surgery under LA and GA, on calls dealing with maxillofacial and dental trauma, acute infection, A&E and ward care of medically compromised surgical in-patients

During my VT I had the opportunity to work in a primarily NHS practice. I was able to build on my undergraduate training in various aspects of clinical dentistry, especially my ability to communicate with patients and efficiency in carrying out and completing treatment plans. I was introduced to the key principles of dental practice administration and management.