Dentistry Interview Course

You are a newly qualified NHS dentist starting your first NHS job. The practice is located in a deprived inner city area. You notice most of your patients in the morning clinic have not seen a dentist for years and have extensive dental disease. Why do you think the patients may present like this?

[Role Play] You are studying at dental school and living in the hall of residence. The area is under strict lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of your fellow dental students has a cough and temperature and cannot taste his food. He insists on attending the lectures at university; otherwise, he will fall behind. Speak to him.

One of your fellow dentists appears to be overcharging patients following treatment. He attempts to justify this by stating without these funds, the practice may close. What issues are raised here?

You are treating a patient who has extensive dental injuries. In the history, he tells you these were following an assault. The following day, the police arrive, asking for a copy of his dental records. How do you respond to the police request?

[Role Play] A child has come into your dental surgery with his mum. He has deliberately broken his dental appliance by standing on it. The dental nurse starts shouting at the child, who begins to cry and at mum for wasting NHS resources. Please continue the consultation.

One of your dental colleagues has posted a video on social media of what appears to be a social gathering in the practice meeting room. Everyone seems to be jovial and enjoying themselves. It is posted on the dental practice Facebook page. It is going viral with the public. How do you think you should proceed?

There is a need for more NHS dentists in the UK. The government proposes that all dental students at UK universities work exclusively for the NHS for the first ten years after qualifying. The reason given for this is that taxpayers have heavily subsidised university dental training, and the graduates should give something back to society. What do you think about this proposal?

A well patient attends your NHS dental practice. He has no problems with chewing or eating and has no symptoms. He is worried about the appearance of his upper front teeth, which appears to be a cosmetic issue – you find nothing abnormal on examination. Should the NHS fund treatment to correct this cosmetic issue?

As you are likely to be aware, the skill of manual dexterity needs to be mastered by dentists. What is manual dexterity, and can you give us an example of where you have used this skill?