The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd)’s Faculty of Dental Surgery, together with sponsors Dentsply Sirona, is delighted to announce the launch of its Dental Clinical Skills Competition which will run in dental schools across the UK and Ireland this autumn/winter 2018.
Aiming to discover the UK and Ireland’s best undergraduate dentist, heats will take place in 18 UK and Irish dental schools from October to December 2018. During these heats, final year dental students will have the opportunity to showcase their clinical dental skills, with the best student from each heat winning a travel and accommodation package to compete in the Grand Final of the competition taking place at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh on 28 February 2019. RCSEd hopes the competition will complement the basic dental skills delivered at the undergraduate level in the UK and Ireland, and help develop self-improvement in post-graduation dentistry.
Explaining more about the competition, Dean of RCSEd’s Faculty of Dental Surgery, Professor Fraser McDonald said:
“The Dental Skills competition is a unique competition for aspiring young dentists to attempt practical evaluations in areas not often assessed in their normal environment. It allows access to the ambiance of the Royal College and its distinctive backdrop and buildings. Friendships forged in this arena are lifelong.”
Gerry Campbell, VP & General Manager UK, Dentsply Sirona commented:
"Following last year’s successful Dental Skills Competition, we are honoured and delighted to continue our partnership with The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh to celebrate the talented dental clinicians of tomorrow.
"This competition continues to bring the best out of students. Through our continued commitment to providing innovative solutions for better, faster, safer dentistry and our expansive education programme, it is our desire and privilege to support dental professionals throughout their career.”
The Grand Final of the competition will be followed by a dinner in the 500-year-old Edinburgh College at which presentations will be made to the winner and two runners-up. All participants in the competition will receive a certificate of participation and two years' affiliation with The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
After a punishing series of tests designed to push the finalist's skills to the maximum, last year’s competition was won by Newcastle University student Joe Reid who said:
"It was quite a novel experience competing in the Dental Clinical Skills Competition. You don’t really compete with each other normally at dental school and you don’t see the quality of other people’s work. There were a lot of different challenges that we don’t normally come across too. I think the best part of the competition was spending time with people from other dental schools, as they’re people you wouldn’t normally meet."
Registration to participate is open now and details of which Dental Schools are taking part in this competition can be found on the RCSEd website.
To find out more about the Dental Skills Competition, visit www.rcsed.ac.uk/dentalskillscomp or follow on social media via #DentalSkillsComp