The Future Dentist
Date
Session
Topics covered
October 2026
Sun 25 Oct
Week 1
2:00 – 3:30pm
Motivation & Reflection
Motivation
Why Dentistry?; reflecting on work experience (STAR & Gibbs); why this university?
November 2026
Sun 1 Nov
Week 2
2:00 – 3:30pm
Personal Qualities
Qualities
Qualities of an excellent dentist; GDC principles; strengths, weaknesses & mistakes
Sun 8 Nov
Week 3
2:00 – 3:30pm
Dental Team & Communication
Communication
Dental team & scope of practice; the patient journey; rapport, ICE & anxious patients
Sun 15 Nov
Week 4
2:00 – 3:30pm
Dental Ethics
Ethics
The four pillars; consent, capacity & confidentiality; applied ethics scenarios
Sun 22 Nov
Week 5
2:00 – 3:30pm
Situational Judgement
SJT
Professionalism & GDC Standards; duty of candour; raising concerns; social media
Sun 29 Nov
Week 6
2:00 – 3:30pm
NHS Dentistry & Inequalities
NHS
NHS vs private; UDAs & contract reform; access & workforce; equality vs equity
December 2026
Sun 6 Dec
Week 7
2:00 – 3:30pm
Public Health Hot Topics
Hot Topics
Water fluoridation; sugar tax; antimicrobial resistance; amalgam; Hall Technique
Sun 13 Dec
Week 8
2:00 – 3:30pm
Contemporary Dentistry & Data
Data
AI & digital dentistry; cosmetic dentistry & dental tourism; sustainability; data interpretation
Sun 20 Dec
Week 9
2:00 – 3:30pm
Difficult Conversations
Role-play
SPIKES; breaking bad news; angry & anxious patients; oral cancer referral
January 2027
Sun 3 Jan
Week 10
2:00 – 3:30pm
Group Tasks & Final Prep
Group Task
Group stations; triage & prioritisation; unexpected questions; interview-day checklist
