A key element of this programme, that makes it stand out is that the syllabus is recognised by the Royal College of Surgeons

Can you tell us a little bit about your educational and professional background? What drew you to endodontics as a specialism?

I graduated as a dentist from the University of Birmingham in 2005. I was very fortunate to have exceptional teachers in endodontics, who sparked my interest in this specialty.

In 2010, I completed an MSc in Advanced Endodontics from the European University of Madrid, where I became competent in the use of more complex techniques in endodontics under the clinical microscope. Upon returning to the UK in 2011, I had the opportunity to work as a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Birmingham and started to limit my clinical practice to endodontics and the restoration of endodontically treated teeth.

What made you decide to study the endodontics taught doctorate programme (DClinDent -Endodontics) at the University of Sheffield specifically?

In 2016 I moved to Sheffield and combined my clinical work at an endodontic referral practice with a position as a Clinical Teacher in Restorative Dentistry at the University of Sheffield. It was during this time at the University that I came across the DClinDent course in Endodontics.

I was very impressed with the programme, facilities and the brilliant specialists and scientists involved in the teaching. I was also able to speak to the post-graduate students enrolled in the course, who shared their very positive experience, most of them having relocated from abroad to study here. They were very happy to recommend not only the world class academic and clinical aspects of the course but also the warm and friendly environment of the university life here at Sheffield.

A key element of this programme, that makes it stand out from other similar courses, is that the syllabus is recognised by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh as providing the required content and experience to enable the candidate to sit their specialty membership examination. This is critical, as the RCS membership qualification is the gateway requirement to become a ‘specialist’ recognised by the UK General Dental Council.  Also, the programme in Sheffield holds the RCSEd membership examination in a con-joint manner together with the UoS DClinDent programme at the end of the course. In this way, the candidate sits one assessment and if successful they will graduate with the UoS DClinDent and with the RCSEd Membership qualification – two for one!

What did you enjoy most about the course?

The DClinDent programme in Endodontics runs alongside the DClinDent courses in Prosthodontics and Periodontics and we often had clinical and academic learning together. This is a unique option in the UK.  Other institutions may offer two of the three disciplines, but they are generally run independently from each other. The Sheffield programme is structured so that the first year is common to all three disciplines and thereafter, they all share clinical time and many didactic experiences. I really enjoyed being part of this community of great colleagues and teachers of different specialties, who were always happy to share their knowledge and experiences. The small group discussions about complex cases or different management philosophies, in a multidisciplinary environment were invaluable. Particularly, as I had limited my practice to endodontics for a few years, it was great to be able to collaborate with and carry out more comprehensive treatment strategies for patients. There was also a wealth of different types of cases to take on and the clinical freedom to plan and treat them, once you have demonstrated competency, with the knowledge that you would be supported along the way by excellent clinicians.

What knowledge and skills have you developed during your course?

The comprehensive training provided by the DClinDent programme over the three years carefully follows the requirements for training in the Restorative mono-specialties outlined by the General Dental Council. By the end of the course I felt confident with any complex endodontic procedure, having taken part in the specifically designed learning opportunities, resulting in the core skills and full range of competencies expected of a specialist. I learnt to translate findings from appropriate investigations, in order to diagnose and plan suitably individualised management strategies, taking into account the patient’s wishes and global health. I was also able to gain in-depth understanding of the historical and current literature, guidelines and critical awareness of new concepts and controversies within the Endodontic specialty.

The research aspect of the course also runs throughout the three years, where I gained hands-on experience in laboratory-based bioengineering and tissue culture testing, working with scientists in the fields of chemistry and cellular biology. The comprehensive and robust nature of the research component means that this can be published in a peer-reviewed journal and in this way, it adds a further output to the programme.

How do you think the course will influence (or already has influenced) the next steps in your career?

The course has enabled me to become a GDC Registered Specialist in Endodontics. I am now a principal in a dental referral practice, where I can make full use of the knowledge and skills I have gained over the years. I am very fortunate to work alongside brilliant clinicians with different specialities on more complex cases, so together we can provide the best possible care for our patients, much like I was doing during the course.

I also continue to work part time as a Clinical Teacher in the Restorative Department at the University of Sheffield. This allows me to share my knowledge in Endodontics and clinical dentistry with undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as maintaining my motivation and love for the dental profession. Hopefully, I am able to inspire my students the way I was inspired by my endodontic teachers.

What would you say to a dentist thinking about studying a course like this at Sheffield?

The Restorative department at the University of Sheffield has a very welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. It has world class clinical and research facilities and connections with other departments within the university. The support from the clinical and academic staff is excellent.

The DClinDent in Endodontics is a very well-structured full-time course, with over 3000 hours of clinical activity spent with patients in a multidisciplinary environment. So, by the end - after some hard work and determination - you would be able to achieve the technical skills and manual dexterity, knowledge and thinking processes needed to perform endodontics to a specialist level.