The partnership aims to bridge the gap between the academic environment and the realities of delivering day-to-day dental care, complementing the curriculum, and helping students develop the skills and confidence needed for independent practice.
Aryan Panchmatia is a student who recently completed his placement with Bupa. He said, "It has made a significant difference in terms of my clinical abilities and the amount of exposure I’ve gained to work on my skills. We also got to experience new materials, new instruments and new ways of doing things.
“We received more one-on-one supervision from our tutor, which is nice because in the hospital there are a larger number of students that each tutor is supervising. If we need help with anything, it means we’re waiting for a shorter time. It’s also a good opportunity to build rapport with patients because it’s more one-to-one care.”
Bupa has appointed clinical supervisors from its extensive network of dentists to mentor and guide students during their placements.
Alaa Alsaeed, a clinical supervisor at Bupa Dental Care High Lane, said, “It’s incredibly rewarding to support and develop young dentists, giving them a true sense of what working in a general practice environment looks like.”
Neil Sikka, director of dentistry at Bupa Dental Care, added, “Through partnerships like this one, we’re creating opportunities for students to experience primary care settings, helping them get vital exposure and feel confident and capable when they step into their roles as qualified dentists."