A selection of year 11 and year 12 students were privileged to attend a talk by Dr Bhavisha Patel, a practising dentist, who shared her career journey and valuable insights into the world of dentistry.

Dr Patel highlighted the qualities needed for a successful dental career, including attention to detail, strong communication skills, teamwork and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment. She also discussed the educational pathways into dentistry, the importance of foundational knowledge in biology, anatomy, pharmacology and materials science, as well as emerging technologies such as digital scanning and 3D imaging.

Students learnt about the rewarding aspects of dentistry, including building long-term patient relationships, personal fulfilment and tangible results from their work. Dr Patel also offered guidance on lifelong learning, managing patient expectations and the challenges of dealing with complaints and unpredictability in the profession.

The session inspired students to think carefully about their career choices, showing them the skills, dedication, and mindset required to succeed in dentistry.

We are very grateful to Dr Bhavisha Patel for giving her time to support our students.