Monday
This week, I had independent study on Monday morning so I spent it doing pre-recorded lectures at home. Every Monday morning at 8am, we get a series of lectures released on Blackboard for us to complete in our own time, in addition to our in-person lectures.
I organise my lectures by topic on Notion (an online workspace), and write my notes as questions, which I then convert into flashcards on Anki (an open access flashcard program that uses spaced repetition which helps me to learn information more effectively).
This afternoon, I had one of my two clinical operating sessions. I had a patient in for a LR5 occlusal composite restoration, whilst also placing rubber dam.
After clinic, most evenings, I do online biology, chemistry and maths GCSE tuition as a part-time job. This is usually for 5-6 hours per week.
Tuesday
On Tuesday morning, I had some more time off to get through the pre-recorded lectures. Today, I did the ‘Regenerative Periodontal Surgery’ and ‘Oral Health in Special Care Dentistry’ lectures.
In fourth year, we have five clinical sessions per week. Two of these are our own operating sessions, in two of them we assist our clinical partner, and once a week, we have our oral surgery rotations. Our clinics here range from radiography, minor oral surgery, acute dental care, locals and theatre. This afternoon, I assisted my clinical partner with a gold onlay fit, which I found helpful prior to my crown preparations I have booked in for January.
This evening, to celebrate a great semester of SUDSS events, the entire SUDSS committee went for a meal at Proove Pizza, Orchard Square. This was a great way for us to catch up and relax after a long semester of SUDSS and clinics!
Wednesday
This morning, we had a couple of in-person lectures on dental materials. I like to write my notes in the lecture and add in parts I find useful from what the lecturer is saying. I usually then review my notes at a later date and upload them into Anki flashcards. Most lectures will recommend further reading at the end of the lecture. I will usually do this further reading if I want to understand the lecture subject in greater depth, when I come to revise it. At lunchtime, the Dean of the dental school kindly invited the SUDSS committee for a coffee and cake at lunchtime, to celebrate the success of SUDSS so far this academic year. Then, in the afternoon, I had my last operating session of 2025!
I had two patients booked. The first came in for impressions prior to splint provision, and I also took a facebow record. To prepare for my sessions, I usually review my lecture notes, as well as watching clips online. This greatly helped me in setting up my facebow. My second patient was in for an upper complete and lower RPD denture fit. It was incredibly rewarding to give this patient dentures and finally aid him in his occlusion. After clinic, I went for a meal at Nando’s with my dental family: Endo-Z! As a committee member in fourth year, I am the dental ‘parent’ for one of our eight dental families. This is a great way to integrate all year groups, with students from all four years of BDS study attending our family meal!
Thursday
Today we had a histology session on salivary diseases. We work through a range of case studies in these sessions, referring to our lecture notes and looking at radiographs and histological images to ascertain diagnoses. We had a look at salivary calculi and other lesions today. We then run through the answers with the tutor running the session. This supplements our lectures well.
This afternoon, my group had our oral surgery rotation. My clinical partner and I were in radiography this afternoon, taking a range of bitewing, periapical and OPT radiographs that had been requested throughout the entire hospital. I found it useful to refresh my radiography skills.
Friday
We had lectures on intravenous sedation techniques, as well as connective tissue disorders. We then had an exam briefing for our IRMER examination in January, it was helpful to work through an example question as this exam focuses on identification of common pathology and normal structures on dental radiographs.
This afternoon, I assisted my clinical partner in completing an RCT on the UR6. The chemo-mechanical preparation stage was completed today. I have recently done my first RCT on an UL4 so it was useful for me to assist on a molar RCT, before completing one myself. After clinic, I worked on my Quality of Patient Care group presentation, which we will be assessed next week, allowing us to develop our skills with regards to considering different aspects of care quality and preparing us for work in practice.
To round off the week, SUDSS hosted a classic staff versus students event: the annual charity pub quiz! We had a fantastic turnout, with multiple staff and student teams working together. There were various rounds, including a Christmas one, and lots of great prizes were given out. This was a perfect way to end the penultimate week of clinics of the year!
