It is crucial that dentists starting out in the profession have an opportunity to consolidate and advance their skills in a safe and supportive environment. They need access to on-going training and education that is pitched at the right level, as well as a network of colleagues who can offer effective guidance and mentorship.
Clyde Munro understands this well and offers a purposefully structured journey for the early career dentist. From vocational training (VT) to the first five years of dentistry through to specialism, the group actively facilitates skill development and career progression for all.
The VT year, for example, gives dentists the chance to work in cutting-edge practices with vastly experienced colleagues. It is also supported by the Best Foot Forward Programme, which offers three sessions with an overnight event. This covers everything from artificial intelligence (AI) in dentistry, to endodontics and stress management. This is designed to complement the VT training and dedicated study days, ensuring a comprehensive education for young dentists.
Dr Paul Capanni is currently doing his VT with Clyde Munro in the Scottish Highlands. He reflects on what he has found to be the biggest challenges of moving into the practice environment after university:
“The increased workload has been very apparent. It’s also a little daunting to have to make all the decisions for yourself; you have to think on your feet a lot. There is also more pressure on you to refine your skills and build confidence, as you know that you only have until the end of the year to be able to work independently. The key is finding a balance between developing your skills and doing so safely with your mentor.”
Paul considers how the group has supported his development at this crucial stage of his career:
“Clyde Munro offers dedicated VT study days and additional training, which has all been really good with a lot of excellent sessions covering relevant topics. These are also great opportunities to meet other VTs from all over the country. The clinical training has opened my eyes to what is possible in dentistry today. It’s been really interesting to see some of the advanced treatments and understand just what practitioners can achieve in general practice.
“The practice I work in is unique in its size – it’s one of the largest practices in Scotland. This means there are lots of other trainees working alongside me and I have found speaking to them and seeing how they do things to be very helpful during my VT so far. In addition, there are plenty of experienced dentists to ask for advice or to refer multidisciplinary cases to, which also gives me a chance to observe more advanced cases in orthodontics or even dental implants. The more you are exposed to in your early career, the better, and I enjoy having this variety. It also ensures I gain a broad grounding across the profession.
“The practice environment itself is also conducive to our development. We have a patient care coordinator (PCC) who ensures a smooth patient journey and supports all the dentists on a daily basis. I actually don’t do a great deal of admin in general – all of this is taken care of. We also have access to very good equipment. We have a CT machine and intraoral scanners available to use in-house. These really help to speed up treatments and improve the quality of patient care we can deliver.
“Working within Clyde Munro, you feel like you’re a part of something bigger. There’s a lot of support in everything from clinical aspects to logistical and financial. It’s nice to be at the forefront of digital dentistry and to be exposed to things you might otherwise not be exposed to. It’s a good group to work for; they are always investing in you in some way.”
Based on his experience so far, Paul offers some advice for other VTs who may be beginning their journey into practice:
“This is the year to try lots of things, to be exposed to complex cases, to ask lots of questions. It’s easy to avoid certain treatments if they feel beyond your remit and you simply refer, but it’s more beneficial to work through it in some situations – under the supervision of a mentor. I have found it helpful to do a lot of tutorial cases with my trainer, as this allows me to learn as much as I can from them while providing safe patient care. You also begin to see patients coming back to the practice in your VT year, so there’s a chance to reflect on your own work and improve your approach.”
Once Paul and other VTs have completed their training year, that’s not the end of the training with Clyde Munro. At this point, the group offers the Flying Start Programme, which continues to support individual’s development for several years into their careers. When appropriate, there are then supported pathways to help clinicians further broaden or specialise their skills.
To find out more about a career with Clyde Munro, contact the team today.
Find out more about the career opportunities and vacancies available with Clyde Munro today at careers.clydemunrodental.com or contact
joinus@clydemunrodental.com for a confidential chat
