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“I find great satisfaction in being able to remove a tooth and alleviate a patient’s pain”
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in the UK every year and, thanks to advances in new technologies and techniques, treatment success rates can be 85 to 90 per cent or better.
Q&A
N estimated 14 million root canal treatments are completed
Rachel Evans is a dentist with a special interest in oral surgery
• What attracted you to a career in oral surgery? I was initially simply keen to further my expertise in removing teeth and gain further surgical skills. I undertook my first job as an SHO in oral and maxillofacial surgery and absolutely loved it. I never went back to general dentistry
and carried on with a career in oral surgery.
• What do you enjoy most about the specialty? I personally now work in several different settings from private general dental practice to my local oral and maxillofacial surgery department, providing a minor oral surgery service and a two-week- wait cancer screening clinic. I have great support from all of my dental colleagues in practice and in the hospital. I love the diversity of my job, as I never really know what to expect from each day. During my time as a staff grade in oral and maxillofacial surgery I loved operating on facial trauma patients out of hours, repairing facial lacerations and plating fractured mandibles. I miss my trauma operating time, but now enjoy more sleep and a regular 9-5pm job.
• What do you find most challenging? I find great satisfaction in the ability to remove a tooth and alleviate a patient’s pain and anxiety. Yet one can never be complacent as teeth are unpredictable and you can still be caught out, even with 10 years of experience. So taking out teeth still keeps me on my toes. It
gives me a sense of achievement when all goes well and the patient leaves with a smile on their face.
• Have you been surprised by any aspect of the job? I still find it slightly daunting to remove teeth from children under local anaesthetic. They are unpredictable, yet often I am surprised at how well some of them cope. It is essential to gain the trust of a patient. Children are very perceptive so if they think you are hiding something, they will remain suspicious. I find being honest and taking the time to explain what is going to happen, the best strategy. I have actually even had adult patients fall asleep while I remove multiple teeth… and that is without sedation!
• What personal attributes do you feel are important in oral surgery? Empathy is a great personal attribute to have as an oral surgeon. Our patients don’t want to be sat in the dental chair and they certainly don’t really want to be having a tooth pulled out. If you are able to understand the patient’s anxieties and then provide reassurance, your patient will be so much more cooperative.
• What advice would you give to a student or trainee considering the specialty? Go for it! I have never regretted my decision. Oral surgery offers a great future for anyone with a sense of adventure. There are real opportunities for professional growth and hopefully in time, the number of training posts will increase. I would encourage individuals to engage with the BAOS (British Association of Oral Surgeons) and their local specialists, to gain an insight into the job and the many job opportunities available to an oral surgeon. The BAOS annual conference offers the opportunity to hear some fantastic lectures, as well as the chance to present posters on subjects within oral surgery. Poster entries are considered for prize awards and are an asset to any CV for an individual keen to apply for further training.
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