Sonia Khela qualified from Birmingham Dental School in 2010. She then undertook vocational training in the South Yorkshire East Midlands Deanery and opted to go into general practice rather than apply for a DF2 post.
After 15 months of general practice, Sonia made the decision to undertake a Maxillofacial SHO post which she describes as a daunting prospect at the time but one of the best decisions that she ever made.
Here she tells us about some of the dental career decisions she made and her experiences along the way...
Life as a dental associate
I found that general practice as an associate was incredibly different to my experiences in foundation training. Gone was my trainer - no longer could I hide behind the tag of trainee, it was time to step up. There are many patients to see and very little time. You are often working in a new practice with different colleagues and adapting to different ways of doing things in terms of protocol as well as availability of clinical materials and armamentarium. Along with all of this you have a brand new patient base who you feel will be judging you from the outset. Gone is the stability of a salary, now you have to earn your living working with the UDA remuneration system. At this time you may be feeling a little overwhelmed. Hang on in there things do get better.
After six months in NHS general dental practice I found my rhythm. I had settled into my workplace and was starting to feel a lot more comfortable. Many of the patients I had seen at the very beginning were coming back for their check ups and the work that I had done was still standing strong! I felt more confident in my clinical ability and had been able to take on some more complex restorative work than in my dental foundation training year. I had also been able to take on a greater role within the practice in terms of leadership and management.
Something more...
After many months I started to feel as if I wanted to broaden my experience and pursue my original intention of a career in Orthodontics. I had been intimidated by the competitiveness of such a career pathway and had questioned whether I was up to undertaking a hospital SHO post which I knew I would need in order to progress. I used my time in general dental practice to gain information with regards to what my intended career path would entail and the requirements. This included the British Orthodontic society, speaking to lecturers after attending CPD courses and through my own contacts. I decided to apply for SHO posts. Would I still be able to get a post? Had I missed my opportunity? Was I now stuck in general practice?
Opportunities
I need not have worried. I applied for the first post that became available which was a trust DF2 position. I was successful at interview and could not wait to get started. Being impatient to move forward with my career I had applied for a post that was over two hours from home in a town where I did not know anybody. I moved out into hospital accommodation which was a sobering experience.
Shock to the system
What a completely different environment that I found myself in! Gone were the days of wheeling around on my swivel chair all day long. There were now days when I literally did not get a chance to sit down! I was suturing head and neck lacerations in both adults and children. I was undertaking extractions and biopsies that I would previously have referred. I participated in new patient clinics including fast track referrals. It is great to see the 'other side'. It is brilliant to be able to see what happens after we send that referral letter. I am regularly in theatre assisting and where appropriate performing procedures. I have gained experience of excisions of skin cancers, complex dentoalveolar surgery, orthognatic and trauma procedures. As well as clinics and theatre I was also subject to on call duties where it is safe to say expect the unexpected! What a shock to the system but what a great learning experience! I would be lying if I said that there were not difficult days where I questioned my decision however those were very few and far between even on those days I went home with the knowledge that I had learnt a lot.
Conclusion
I made a great decision! I have recently accepted an Orthodontic Career development post and my career pathway is well en route. If you are at all considering increasing your breadth of experience with an oral surgery and maxillofacial post then do it! Even though it is at times very challenging the benefits are great in terms of career possibilities and clinical experience even if you do not pursue specialist training. Not having done DF2 straight after DF1 does not exclude you from applying for SHO posts. Some DF2 posts have a requirement that you have less that 24-30 months post graduate experience when you apply however there are trust positions available which do not necessarily have this stipulation. I would advise you to do your research. It may be beneficial to undertake a clinical attachment in an oral surgery and Maxillofacial department to ensure that you have a realistic expectation of what the post will entail and this can also boost your application. All in all just do it, take the risk and see where it takes you.