Hindsight is a wonderful thing; looking back at DF1/VT

So DF1/VT is over and my DF2/SHO begins.I wanted to share the thoughts I had during my first year as a qualified dentist, and hopefully give some advice I wish I had been given.

Maybe it is because I have the art of reflections engraved into me over the year (thanks to electronics portfolios) I decided to make another one about my first job.

I feel fortunate to have had such a great VT experience. From a  talented trainer, to nurse to practice, I could not have asked for better. However even still there were low moments:

• Towards the end of the year - burning out, and just wanting a proper break! 
• Being out of your depth
• Missing the simple things - how often I felt stupid to have overlooked simple decay and to be told by my trainer of this.
• Not having all the answers for your patients and trying to convey this in a professional way.

Here were just a few! The first year is  stressful, but also the most valuable. At dental school you rarely follow your work through and see your failures. I  felt this was the most useful aspect of VT - knowing what works, but especially what  doesn't.

Here are a few items I am so very glad I did and strongly recommended to those starting in dentistry out to follow:

1. Get used to taking suitable photographs. Building up a portfolio allows patients to see your dentistry, and to see their treatment progress. There is nothing more satisfying  for a patient to see what your work has done to improve their health and appearance. The patients love it.

2. Get going with your case presentations! One of the first patient's I treated was my case presentation. I had the whole year to do a lot of work, fix problems and write it up early. What a relief it was.

3. Have spare case presentations. Patients are just as unreliable in the real world as they are in the dental school. Unfortunately a few friends could not finish their case presentations due to lack of patient compliance - and with no back up, life was just more stressful.

4. Wear loupes. The monetary outlay will be justified  by the improved quality of your work. Plus your back and neck will thank you for it.

5. Get MJDF done and dusted - don't wait.

6. Keep up to date with log books and reflections.

There were aspects of VT that could have been made a lot easier if the following had been mentioned:

1. Claim back. GDC, BDA and other journal subscriptions at the end of your VT year. Listen to the accountancy lectures for more advice.

2. Key Skills. These can either be written as a word document (like I did) or a monthly payment online can be made to Coreskills. This allows for an electronic portfolio to be made and printed. It is simple to use, but either way start your key skills early!

3. Visit your lab. I wish I had as it makes communicating with them more personal.

4. Save for the GDC. You pay at graduation and again in December!

5. Keep practising on extracted teeth - may sound boring but I wish I had done this more. It really helped me appreciate crown preparation techniques and root canal morphology.

6. Keep up to date with claiming expenses. It will save you many pennies and the quicker you do them the more likely you will receive your money back.

To all those starting your first year as a qualified dentist - good luck and get stuck in! Even through the bad times a lot can be learnt.