The foundations of a fulfilling and prosperous dental career

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Posted by: Dental Design 30th March 2024

The transition from university student to foundation dentist (FD) to dental associate in a busy practice involves a steep learning curve for professionals. At a time when you are consolidating and expanding your clinical knowledge and skills, you must also become familiar with a wide range of administrative, practical and regulatory elements.

To avoid becoming overwhelmed and to grow as a clinician in the most efficient and enjoyable way possible, it is essential that you find a supportive environment in which to progress. The people around you, the mentorship you receive and the growth opportunities available to you, are all crucial. Only with all of these elements can you lay strong foundations for a long, prosperous and fulfilling career in dentistry.

At Rodericks Dental Partners we offer more than a career. We understand the pressures you face and the support you need to successfully complete the transition to dental associate. That’s why we offer a unique FD+1 programme – a year-long initiative that provides an array of benefits specifically tailored for newly qualified dentists as they navigate their first year in practice.

What can you expect from the Rodericks Dental Partners FD+1 programme?

Continued education

High-quality educational opportunities are provided as part of the FD+1 programme, designed to help you enhance your skills and remain updated on industry trends and regulations. A comprehensive calendar of in-house CPD events is available, covering an extensive range of topics, from composite bonding and other restorative techniques, to endodontics, orthodontics and oral surgery. This is an excellent opportunity to further your knowledge and skills in wide ranging areas of dentistry.

Mentorship

Having a mentor is essential, particularly when learning new skills and taking on more complex cases. The FD+1 programme provides direct access to an allocated mentor who has extensive experience of teaching and supporting foundation dentists in their early careers. The structured mentoring programme means that you can engage with your mentor regularly throughout the year, via email or virtual platforms, face-to-face sessions and during hands-on training. While learning new skills and applying them to practice, or approaching more difficult cases, your mentor will offer bespoke advice and provide a safety net that ensures the highest clinical standards for all of your patients. Your mentor can also help you adapt your personal development plan for a well-rounded education in your early career.

Networking

Of course, your mentor is not the only individual supporting you through this journey. With Rodericks Dental Partners, you have access to an extensive network of clinicians, support team members and experts in their relevant fields. This means there will be plenty of like-minded clinicians to turn to for advice, to share experiences and bounce ideas off of. Our clinical teams also include some of the most talented and highly respected specialists in the UK, who you may wish to collaborate with as you learn the necessary skills for advanced cases.

Career Development

The whole of the FD+1 programme is designed to accelerate your career development, providing a platform for exposure to numerous dental specialties and career paths. As you expand your skills, you can see which areas you enjoy most and what you may like to focus on in the future. There are also several co-funding initiatives available in addition to the aforementioned internal CPD programme. For example, you can take advantage of discounted courses with external training providers – including Invisalign and the Smile Academy – for further career progression in your chosen field. All of our FD+1s can also access support in building private dental services, boosting your earning potential while further diversifying your skills.

Professional Support

Complementing the clinical support and mentorship offered to all our FD+1s, Rodericks Dental Partners affords the benefit of help in non-clinical areas. Professional services are available to include everything from administrative assistance to, complaint handling and business development resources. You are never on your own and there is always an expert to turn to if you need advice or help in a certain situation.

Here for you

Ultimately, we want all of our FD+1 clinicians to get the very best start to their career at Rodericks Dental Partners. We make support, motivation and development opportunities a priority through our dedicated FD+1 programme – to find out more contact our team today!