I've always felt supported throughout my studies; the tutors here are second to none, and I've learned so much from them

"When I was little, I wanted to be a vet or open my own sweet shop," recalls Phoebe McDermott. "I first considered a career in dentistry after I had orthodontic treatment at age 14. But it wasn’t until I was sitting my AS-levels that I considered dental hygiene and therapy, when my chemistry teacher suggested I look into it. I did two weeks’ work experience shadowing a dental therapist in a local dental practice and that was when I knew this was the career I wanted to pursue."

Phoebe is now studying for a Higher Education Diploma in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy, here at the University of Sheffield. "After my work experience, I felt more confident than ever that dental therapy was the career for me, I loved the flexibility of the profession and how it is always changing,"  she explains. "I chose Sheffield for many reasons, including the outreach programme where we have various placements in different local dental practices. I thought it would be great to get an idea of what real-world dentistry will be like once I’ve graduated."

"The aspect of the course I find most rewarding is treating patients. It has given me the opportunity to treat lots of different people from a variety of backgrounds. I find working with anxious children particularly rewarding as you can give them an enjoyable first dental experience."

The range of facilities available here at Sheffield has helped Phoebe to develop her skills. "The technology the dental school has is amazing,"  she explains. "The virtual reality simulation suite is a really good piece of technology that allows you to practice filling teeth before you start on real patients. It gives a real sense of depth and how it feels to fill teeth. This along with the clinical skills lab make an amazing pair. In the clinical skills lab, you can practice filling real teeth in the phantom heads. This is an amazing way to get experience of doing various restorative procedures before starting on real patients."

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Sheffield. I have always felt supported throughout my studies. The tutors here are second to none and I have learned so much from them. I feel the University has definitely prepared me for life after graduation and I look forward to seeing where my diploma will take me in the future."