Scheme days are usually spent at the Eastman Dental Institute on Grays Inn Road where I meet with my scheme and my adviser. Each week we have lectures or courses on a core topic such as oral surgery, managing finances in vocational training year, anatomy, law and ethics. The day consists of interactive and hands-on teaching from specialists from different domains of dentistry, each with their own useful hints and tips.
A lecture which I found particularly beneficial was given to us by a very experienced dentist who had also trained as a technician. He spoke to us about the common errors we make as dentists during impression taking and how we can help the technician produce their best work by providing them with accurate impressions that they can work with. He gave us advice on how to improve the accuracy of our impression taking and tooth preparation for crown and bridgework. We had the opportunity to tell him areas where we were having difficulty and he directed us on how we could change this.
Scheme days also provide a great opportunity to catch up with fellow VTs, share success stories and voice any issues that arose during the previous week during peer review sessions. It is reassuring to know that other people are experiencing the same difficulties and challenges as you are.
Training days and trips
Training days and trips are arranged by our adviser throughout the year. Fortunately, we have had several chances to take advantage of the facilities available at the Eastman Dental Institute and LonDEC which are part of the London Deanery. In August, we completed a simulation session at LonDEC in crisis resource management. This provided the opportunity to practise and rehearse responding to medical emergencies in a practical lifelike environment.
Another day spent at LonDEC was part of an endodontic course arranged specifically for our scheme. An endodontic specialist, Alyn Morgan, covered all clinical aspects of endodontics relating to practice and advised us of the latest evidence-based dentistry. We also had a practical session in the laboratory where we practised the gold standard techniques of endodontics as supervised by Alyn.
Coursework
As clinical governance is now a central part of every dentist's career, vocational training aims to instil this discipline from the outset. It is a requirement that every VT keeps an online portfolio. It is essentially a database of everything which we take part in during our vocational training year. It encourages us to reflect on everything we do, consider what we have learned and how it could be improved or amended in the future. It ensures that we carry out procedures in the presence of our trainers to gain from their experience, learn how to do things differently and identify what we need to develop or work on. It is a great learning tool and a worthwhile aspect of vocational training.
Audits are now a basic requirement which every practising dentist must carry out in an effort to maintain quality in the care provided to patients. In keeping with this, every VT must complete an audit of their choice relating to an aspect of general dental practice during the vocational training year. This exposes the VT to the concept of the audit cycle early in their career so it becomes something which is carried out regularly in practice.
Finally, VTs are required to compile a portfolio of evidence known as 'key skills' relating to aspects of our work such as cross infection, health and safety and radiography. In doing this, it forces one to consider and reflect upon each area of practice and exposes one to the various regulations relating to them.
Carving a career path
Overall vocational training has given me the time to develop as a dentist. It has allowed me to acquire skills that I will carry with me throughout my career. It has given me the opportunity to explore all aspects of general dentistry and discover which areas interest me the most. Although it was daunting at first, this soon passes. As with anything in life, you get from it what you put in.