common qs

Question 1

why do you want to study dentistry?

Answer 1

• First appealed to me as it is a healthcare career that combines aims of alleviating pain and engaging with cosmetics and aesthetics
  
  • Smiles reflect someone’s self esteem and beauty
  • I was previously unconfident about my smile
  • In my opinion no one deserves to be insecure about it, I would find it very rewarding to grant people their smiles and increase their self confidence
• Whilst also combining this w my love of hands-on work, which I practice within my long term hobby of creating art, which id love to be able to continue by creating things, which also benefit someones life
• One of the things that furthered my passion for this career was my work experience
  
  • Observed the dentist treat a very anxious patient, with mental health issues, spent appointment trying to make them feel comfortable in the environment so that they’d be more at ease during their next appointment
  • Adaptability, very patient and empathetic towards patient, soft tone
  • Showed how important communication is within dentistry
• Motivated me to develop my communication skills
  
  • Volunteered at a hospital and a primary school
  • Interacted with a range of age groups, improved in communicating w children, learnt how to simplify concepts to ensure that they understood them
  • Seeing them weekly, Was able to build strong bonds w patients and they grew to trust me, very rewarding and I enjoyed conversing w ppl
  • This also reflects what I observed in my work experience: the dentist had established a long term rapport w patients, and had a pleasing patient- dentist relationship
• From my work experience and research into dentistry, I decided that I would be well suited to the career as I am passionate about improving peoples self confidence and easing their pain by working hands on.

Question 1

What Are The Negative Aspects Of Being A Dentist?

Answer 1

• During my wex in an NHS practice I was exposed to some of the challenges of being a dentist
• I noticed the need to be able to work under pressure, due to the short appointment length
• However this can be overcome by effective time management and planning ahead to avoid stress
• I have practiced these skills by organising my time so that I can have a healthy balance between my studies and activities that will help me destress, such as ballet and art
• I created detailed timetables and am continuing to stick to them throughout my a level period
• This method has proven to be effective for me, so I would adapt these techniques to manage time during my time studying and practicing dentistry
• Also, from reading dental articles, I have been made aware that many dentists are leaving the NHS to go private, leaving the number of active NHS dentists at its lowest number in decades
• This is due to dentists feeling burnt out, and being paid in UDAs, which are unrepresentative of how much treatments actually cost
• This lack of NHS dentists is causing ‘dental deserts’, leaving millions without access to basic healthcare, and many patients who can access NHS treatment can’t afford to pay it

*ligigation
*can get sued and recieve complaints
*manage by ensuring practice has an effective complaints procedure

*back pain

• But personally, the rewarding feeling of being able to grant patients improved oral health, self esteem and an overall more comfortable lifestyle outweigh the stressful environment of being a dentist

Question 2

What will you do if you don’t get a place to study Dentistry this year?

Answer 2

• As I feel that dentistry is the career that I am best suited to, and its where my passions lie, I would take a gap year and reapply in the next application cycle
• As I was only able to undergo wex in an NHS practice, I would try to gain experience in a private practice
• From reading articles, I’ve learnt that they are very different working environments
  
  • As many dentists are leaving the NHS to work privately
  • Due to burnout and being paid in UDAs
• Having experience in the 2 diff environments would better my understanding of working as a dentist
• Id also develop my manual dexterity
• By consistently creating art
• So ill be more confident for when I do start dental school
• I also really enjoy art so it would be good for my wellbeing, so I can stay motivated
• Overall, I would try not to be too disheartened by this setback as I can use it to gain positive experiences which will assist me in my next application cycle

Question 3

How will you cope with the workload of studying Dentistry at this university?

Answer 3

• I understand that the heavy workload at dental school can be stressful
• However this can be overcome by effective time management and planning ahead to avoid stress
• I have practiced these skills by organising my time so that I can have a healthy balance between my studies and activities that will help me destress, such as ballet and art
• I created detailed timetables and am continuing to stick to them throughout my a level period
• This method has proven to be effective for me, so I would adapt these techniques to manage time during my time studying and practicing dentistry
• As I mentioned before, I think keeping up with my extracurriculars (ballet and art) will be very beneficial
• As they will provide an outlet to my academic life
• Also, I will make sure I have a support system in place
• Such as my friends and family
• So I can go to them when I am feeling stressed
• As talking about my feelings personally helps me calm down, so that my stress won’t affect my studies and I can get the most out of dental school

Question 4

why dentistry and not medicine?

Answer 4

• Doctors are vital to healthcare
• I dont intend to put down medicine as a career
• As its a fascinating career that I did consider at a point
• But I chose to pursue dentistry for a variety of reasons
• Unlike doctors, Dentists see patients when they are healthy as well as in need of help
• Regularity of seeing patients
• Constantly developing relationship, can build a rapport
  
  • Was very pleasing to see the dentist patient relationship in my wex
  • Started every appointment w friendly convo
• Oversee their entire treatment plan so are able to see rewards of the treatment you gave- sounds satisfying to me
• More hands on
• Stresses manual dexterity which has been heavily implemented into my life so far
• Thru my hobbies such as art which id love to carry forward into my career
• Medicine does include manual dexterity but dentistry has it oriented around everything
• Combines aims of alleviating pain w engaging w cosmetics and aesthetics
• In wex, Saw a young boy have a chipped tooth repaired
• His increase in self confidence after was unforgettable
• Want to be able to grant that to people

*more of a teaching role
*dent is very preventative

• Those are some reasons
• Once again I have a deep respect for the medical field
• Chose dent as it aligns w my own interests

Question 5

What qualities does a good dentist need to have?

Answer 5

• Communication skills
  
  • Meet a range of ppl from diff backgrounds
  • Convey diagnostic info accurately in a way that patients will understand
    
    • Primary school volunteering
  • Helps w patient satisfaction and comfort
  • Especially patients w dental anxiety
    
    • Wex
• Manual dexterity
  
  • Oriented around dentistry
  • Every movement has implications
  • Procedures require good hand eye coordination
    
    • Art
• Leadership
  
  • Work effectively w dental team
  • Ensure smooth running of practice
• Work under pressure
  
  • Lot of responsibility to be responsible for someones care
    
    • Fencing

Question 6

Tell Me About A Piece Of Dental Or Medical News You Have Read Recently

Answer 6

• Woman in her 70s extracted 3 of her own teeth
  
  • Couldn’t find an NHS dentist
    
    • Lived in her home for 6 years
  • Couldn’t afford to go private
• Said she did it w great difficulty and pain
• Could only eat soft food afterwards
  
  • Had to pay around 300 for work on her dental plate so she could eat again
• Emphasises lack of dentists
  
  • Harsh working conditions, burnout
  • Unsatisfied w being paid in UDAs
• Causing dental deserts
  
  • w this case being a tragic example of the tragic lengths that patient’s desperation is causing them to go to

Question 7

what will u do after qualifying?

Answer 7

• Work in NHS practice for first few years
  
  • Unprivileged areas
  • Contribute to improving dental deserts
  • Everyone deserves access to basic healthcare
• Specialise in paediatrics
  
  • Love working w children- volunteering
  • Improve stigma against dentists, make less children grow up fearful of dentist
  • Open own practice
    provide better standard of care, less stress, longer appts
  • Make a comfortable friendly environment for anxious children
• I understand these dreams can change
  
  • As my exposure to diff field in dentistry broadens during my studies

Question 8

why is a work life balance in dent important?

Answer 8

• Form NHS wex I saw that dentistry is very stressful
  
  • Short appt times
  • Hard to build a rapport- not a very sociable career (high suicide rates)
  • Struggled to gain new anxious patients trust, difficult patient, verbal abuse
• Work life balance to avoid burnout and manage stress
• I manage stress by
  
  • Keep in touch w extracurriculars
  • Support system
• In conc I wanna make sure I maintain my mental and physical health whilst studying and practicing dent
  
  • So my struggles dont impact my work
  • Am able to provide the best patient care poss

Question 9

was there a time when ur interest in dent was challenged and how did you manage this?

Answer 9

• Although Im set on dent, I did doubt myself at a point
• During wex I saw how stressful dent is
  
  • Short appt times
  • Hard to build a rapport- not a very sociable career (high suicide rates)
  • Struggled to gain new anxious patients trust- difficult patient, verbal abuse
• Asked dentist how de manages this
  
  • Winds down with his family every day after work
• Realised I have effective methods of managing stress
  
  • Support system
  • Keep in touch w extracurriculars
• However Also in wex seeing the positive impact on patients after alleviating their pain
  
  • Drove me towards the career
  • In conc the rewards of being able to benefit someines oral and mental health outweigh the negs

Question 10

why is it important to keep up to date w dentistry?

Answer 10

• I understand that dentistry is constantly evolving and is a career that requires life long learning
• Keep up to date w new tech
  
  • Eg laser dentistry
    
    • Minimised pain- no anaesthesia needed
    • Precision- less invasive
    • Faster recovery- more comfortable for patient
    • Reduced risk of infection- laser sterilises area as it works
  • Need to be able to use new equipment if it is there
  • Provide best standard of care
  • New tech probably more efficient or less invasive
• Keep up to date w affairs eg GDC principles
  
  • Provide best patient care
  • If dk them, cld have implications on ability to practice
• Learn new skills
  
  • Perform more procedures
• In conclusion I am excited to continuously learn more ab dentistry because I am passionate ab it so will enjoy learning and widening my knowledge

Question 11

why not dht?

Answer 11

• Preface my saying I have a deep respect for dental hygienists and therapists
  
  • Vital part to mdt
• Dentists perform more complex procedures
  
  • Eg surgical
  • I have a love for hands on work
  • Art
  • Love to continue using my creative skills to benefit oral health
• Leadership role in mdt
  
  • Enjoyed being a leader when organising fashion show for school asian celebration event
  • Rewarding when the end product was highly praised and all the models felt confident in their pieces
  • Good at making sure everyone understands their role, good at making everyone feel comfy to raise their concerns
• More chance for specialisation
  
  • Idk how my specific interests will change in the future
  • But ik I enjoy working with children
  • Volunteering
  • Open to specialising in paediatrics
• Overall I chose dentistry as it aligns more with my interests and personality and I feel like I am more suited to the career

Question 12

time u faced a challenge

Answer 12

• Ballet exam
• Practiced sm for it, was well prepared and making no mistakes when practicing
• When exam came, forgot parts of dances despite having practiced them perfectly a few hours ago
• I had cracked under the pressure of being observed by the examiner, was disheartened
• Driving force to do better in the next exam
• Practiced in more high pressure situations rather than only with my teacher whom I am very comfortable with
• Mentally challenging for me but I kept pushing myself and eventually got used to it
• Next exam: performed very well and was proud
• Proud of my performance and that I recognised my weakness and was able to improve
• I understand there will be difficult situations in dent
• Eg saw in wex dentist was stressed due to short appt time, wasn’t able to effectively build rapport w patient
• Important to persevere as end result is rewarding and its natural to make mistakes
• important to recognise mistakes and not be too disheartened by things and shld use them as a learning experience

Question 13

recent developments in dentistry

Answer 13

• DNA saliva testing
  
  • Tests genetic susceptibility to many diseases
• Non invasive
• Detect a variety of diseases in early stages
  
  • Many have no symptoms in early stages
• Periodontal disease, oral HPV
• Preventative
  
  • Take action early on
  • Less complex procedures needed

Question 14

why Leeds?

Answer 14

course:
*early clinical exposure- will equip me w essential clinical skills, ensuring i develop and demonstrate professionalism and communication skills w patients and clinical staff in a clinical setting
*one of the only dental schools to have a dental simulation lab to practice- opportunity to safely practice on virtual cases, develop core surgical skills so will have more confidence when begin seeing patients. I enjoy working hands on so am excited to maximise practical work
*multidisciplinary learning w hygienists, therapists, dental nurses, technicians, taught w DHT students for first 2 years- fosters unity and understanding, prepare me to work as a member of the dental team sharing the care of patients
*research led teaching
*dentsoc- connection w students in diff years, one of the biggest dental societies in country
*personal academic tutor- can go to them for support, help manage stress to handle workload

uni:
*top 100 uni in world
*campus uni w beautiful campus- community feel, quieter lifestyle makes studying more enjoyable
*societies as well as dentsoc: srilankan- keep connected w my culture,ballet- can continue sport good way to destress
*great student union that provides cost of living support: microwaves in the union, affordable food on campus
*university union has own live music facility called Stylus that hosts its own concerts events club nights

city:
*diverse city w large international population
*close to the lake and Peak District- good for wellbeing
*good transport links, Leeds city bikes
*rich architectural history- Harewood house