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Hi Kerri
Just trying to catch up with all the posts (haven't been on here for quite a while - moved, christmas etc etc) and I noticed on the "what is your field of expertise?" posts that you are in the dental world.

I was just wondering what you do (not just being plain nosey ) as I have just applied for a course in Dental Technology and ulimately to get onto a dentisty course after that. I know I must be mad at 35 going for a completely new career (and one that is going to take me 7 years to realise - if and a very big IF I am successful at getting on the courses in the first place).

Kerri x

hi kandh what a wonderful idea to change career, i have worked in dentistry for 20 yrs started off as a dental nurse and worked my way up to practice manager, so know all the ins and outs of the industry, i help in the valuable training of those who have just qualified from dental school and prepare them for 1 year ready to face the big world of dentistry, it is a rewarding and well paid job if you are a dentist, it is a long slog, especially when it will be taking you 7 years as opposed to the 5 as you have to do the access course first, i have a dentist this year who is 34 who changed careers at 29 and he loves it, shouldn't see why you won't, what i would advise you is telephone around as many practices as you can and see if any of them will let you go and spend a day with them each week, i have done this recently for a young lady who went on the access course and am very happy to say is now studying at liverpool uni to be a dentist,if i can be of any help to you ask a way, get your hep b done and then if you go and look round practices you can start to get hands on, i do know the criteria at the uni's now is that you have made some sort of effort to gain experience and knowledge of how a dental surgery works stands you in good stead, my son wants to be a dentist he is 15 and will be doing work experience with a couple of practices in my area, helps when you know them all!!

i take it it is dentistry that you want to do and not to become a dental technician?
good luck and please let me know how you get on.
kerri

Please view my blog at: http://scaredkez.blogs.iva.co.uk/

Kerri,

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Yes I do want to become a dentist (eventually!!). I dont have the right qualifications to get on the 5 year dentistry course and did look at an HND in Applied Science at Leceister College. However a very kind man in the office there advised that a Foundation Degree in Dental Technology at De Mondfort Uni would be a better option for me, given my long term plans! This is a 2 year course starting in September. I have recently applied for it but a little unsure yet whether I will gain a place because I think it is more aimed at those who have already completed a BTEC in the same subject but will just have to wait and see. If I get on this course then I will be able to apply for the dentistry one at the start of my second year. Pre foundation dentistry courses are few and far between and the nearest one is Bristol (2.5 hours away!! [:0]).

I am a little limited as to where I can go because of where we live near Peterborough (Leicester is a 45 min drive away) but am willing to travel this far if it meant i can do dentistry. I will be applying to Sheffield (all being well of course [;)])and yes unfortunately I know that this is one of the hardest ones to get into because they are so good [;)]), but again limited to options and this is the closest place (an hour and a bit away) although we will be moving to about 50 mins away by the time I start it.

I have made contact with a dental lab near me so hopefully can do that soon. As I dont work, I can actually spend all day Tuesdays and Thursdays until Sept doing "work experience" and mornings the other days so hopefully this will look favourable for me.

Going from an aircraft engineering mechanic to a full time mum of 4 to dentistry. I think i must be slightly mad doing this and have to admit that I am terrified by the whole process. I have been studying with the Open Unversity for 5 years and currently doing a level 2, 60 point "Molecular World" course which will hopefully help. In any event, if for some reason I dont get on this FD course, then I still have the option of finding another course to do or doing the A Levels required in the same amount of time.

I have loads of questions to ask but I have already written an essay so wont bombard you with them all now!! [:D] [:D]

Kindest regards
Kerri (spooky its the same spelling - very rare!) x

i am just worried that the course you want to do is more in line with dental technicians rather than dentists it self, going to labs does not give you an insight how to dental practices are run, although gives you an insight into how crowns , bridges and dentures are cast up and made, i would telephone practices and ask them if you can go and observe at least.

kandh you do understand that the course you are doing is to train as a technician which is totally different from a dentist?
kerri

Please view my blog at: http://scaredkez.blogs.iva.co.uk/

Hi Kerri

I understand that my planned course is aimed at becoming a technician and not a dentist. I have already contacted a dental lab but that was to gain a little insight into how they are run in preparation for this FD course only and not for becoming a dentist. I have got a list of dentists ready (didnt know any as we have recently moved 200 miles from previous house so completely in the dark as to what facilities there are here). The aim was to then gain knowledge/insight into dental practices from hopefully all angles. I would have had approximately 18 months do gain this and I was told that going once a week for a longer period of time was probably better than going for a 2 week solid placement. But perhaps this isnt the best way??

I did go and see a careers advisor at Leicester college who advised me this was the way to go but am open to any other suggestions. He advised that this would give me an insight into some of the terminology and some of the processes which would then help my application for the 5 year course etc. My options are extremely limited because of where we live, although I was prepared to travel up to around an hours drive away. I have already submitted an application to UCAS and the closing date for all applications to be guaranteed consideration has passed but as you probably know I can still put in for other courses as I only applied for one course and not received or accepted any offers/withdrawals yet.

I really dont know of any other way that I achieve the entry requirements needed. Another option is obviously go back to college and do the A Levels required but the thinking was that if all else fails, I would still have the FD to fall back on and perhaps go the technician/lab route instead.

Any advise that you can give as to other options, I would welcome with open arms right now [:I]
Kerri

i would ring the university where you hope to do dentistry, the technician side is really limited as to actually what happens within practice, ask them for advise on any access courses they recommend, i know manchester offer a 6 yr dental course with a foundation course as the first year which you have to be pass before you can then go for the BDS, a levels is an option,or as i have said an access course which is science based, one word of advice for you if you decide to go the technician route if you don't get on the dental course it is very hard and long hours for very little money, they start early and finish late and its not until you have built your self up and have your own lab and recommendations that you start to earn a good survivable wage, all uni's have different acceptance policies on what they will accept so if i was you i would start there and get advice from them and also tell them that you are willing to do work experience to gain valuable knowledge of the industry by approaching dentists within your area.

good luck
kerri

Please view my blog at: http://scaredkez.blogs.iva.co.uk/