The idea of a career in dental care came to me quite fortuitously. Upon completing my A-levels, I was uncertain about the career path I wanted to pursue. Opting for a gap year, I began exploring various job opportunities and apprenticeships. After attending multiple interviews across different fields, I landed an interview for a Dental Nursing apprenticeship, which I accepted and began working in October 2018. By January 2021 (due to a delay of COVID-19), I had completed the apprenticeship and moved to a fully private practice. During my apprenticeship, I gathered a wide range of practical experience in dental surgery, providing clinical chair-side support to several clinicians, including hygienists.
I was delighted to find the work immensely satisfying, and I enjoyed studying the scientific basis of dental care. I also soon discovered how richly rewarding the human interactions can be between dental professionals and patients. I quickly understood how dentistry can relieve people of pain and offer significant cosmetic benefits, giving patients new confidence in their appearance. After three years of working as a Dental Nurse, I knew that this role would not satisfy my ambitions and that a more involved and responsible position was what I wanted. I had various discussions with other dental care professionals around me, who were able to guide and inform me of the career paths available in dentistry that would eventually lead to more responsibility; dental hygiene therapy interested me.
Dental hygiene and therapy is not well known as a course by the general public, and few universities offer the course. In the instance that they do, they limit the cohort to around 15-20 people each year, making the course have low acceptance rates. Looking at the entry requirements, I did not have the correct A-level to be accepted into the course. Therefore, I had to complete an Access to Higher Education course in medical sciences. This was a self-taught course that I completed online while working full-time. During the summer of 2021, I left my permanent workplace, opening my own Locum Dental Agency with a few employees and working as a freelance dental nurse.
After much research and careful consideration, I chose the universities I wanted to apply to, one of which is Queen Mary University of London, where I currently study. Prior to my interview at QMUL, I had undergone an interview process with a different university, which unfortunately resulted in rejection. While this outcome was disheartening initially, the experience served as valuable preparation for subsequent interviews. I successfully secured a place at Queen Mary University of London and commenced my studies in September 2022, and I am currently halfway through my degree.
Contrary to the traditional pathways of education, gap years, apprenticeships, or employment are options that will provide hands-on learning experiences, which often lead to rewarding careers. Having prior work experience in the field I am studying at university has proven incredibly beneficial. It provided me with a solid foundation of essential knowledge and equipped me with the skills to interact with patients effectively.
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Blog Written by: Sadije P
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