Opening doors

In September of last year I completed a three-year, full-time masters in clinical dentistry in periodontology. The course was at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute and is probably the best periodontal programme in the UK. It has international lecturers and it is EFP (European Federation of Periodontology) accredited, which means that the quality, content and competencies of the postgraduate programme are recognised in many countries in Europe.

The full-time programme is very intensive. You have to work hard every day of the week, and there is typically more work that needs to be put in after hours as well. It was an academic programme with a very strong evidence-based clinical component.

Starting off with a greater academic focus, the first year of the course teaches delegates about the concepts involved. You are also treating patients, but on a less complex level. In the second year, you get exposed to implant dentistry and regenerative therapies, which are the more advanced therapies that you would be performing as a specialist in periodontology. The third and final year of the course is spent fine-tuning knowledge and skills to ensure delegates can work with them in the practice appropriately, along with sitting their exams.