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Lookup NU author(s): Ashleigh StampORCiD
This is the authors' accepted manuscript of a conference proceedings (inc. abstract) published in its final definitive form in 2017. For re-use rights please refer to the publishers terms and conditions.
As students strive to develop and perfect practical techniques, the need for parallel enhancement of professionalism and communication skills can often be overlooked. This is of critical importance when making the transition from simple care provision in adults to managing the needs of both children and their parents.Within the scope of practice of UK Dental Therapists lies the ability to extract erupted deciduous teeth, with training in this skill often undertaken towards the end of clinical training. Despite the capacity to learn and develop practical skills using ‘phantom heads’ and during provision of care under general anaesthesia, students worries and concerns tend to lie with administering local anaesthesia to children and managing the conscious patient.Listening to student feedback, a programme of study was developed at Newcastle School of Dental Sciences to facilitate the transition through this stage of clinical training. Encompassing a programme of shadowing, theoretical grounding, practical skill development and treatment planning workshops, this programme culminates in a series of one to one chairside teaching episodes extracting deciduous teeth under conscious sedation. Throughout this process students undertake a transition of increasing clinical responsibility, with continual focus upon development of interpersonal skills. At the heart of this lies a programme of reflection; increasing student self-awareness and facilitating peer to peer learning.Despite the high level of teaching support required, development of transferrable skills to other areas of the undergraduate programme has proved highly beneficial. Combining this with an accelerated rate of clinical progression, students have the capacity to enter the workplace with increased experience, competence and ability to provide patient care in an effective manner. With Dental Therapists being set to play an increasingly prominent role within the dental workforce, particularly in the care of children, enhancing the development of this professional group can only improve patient outcomes.
Author(s): Stamp AJ
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: Association for Dental Education in Europe
Year of Conference: 2017
Acceptance date: 18/04/2017
Date deposited: 27/11/2019
Notes: Oral Presentation and Discussion
Series Title: Bridging the gap between pre-clinical and clinical training - Experiences and strategies to bridge the gap
