Why orthodontics?

Personal experiences

My overwhelmingly positive experience with orthodontics is probably not dissimilar to many others. As a child, I was very self-conscious about my smile and often avoided showing my teeth. That changed dramatically following orthodontic treatment. Braces not only transformed my smile, but also my self-confidence as a person. Looking back, I felt that it would be an absolute privilege to be in a position to create such a meaningful change for others and that's what ignited my passion for orthodontics. 

Working at a specialist clinic

To explore a greater scope of dentistry, I was fortunate enough to be able to work for a paediatric and orthodontic specialist clinic. This was a fantastic opportunity as I encountered real-world scenarios of how challenging cases were managed. Examples of the diversity of these cases included:

• An unfortunate situation where a young girl had an avulsed 11 and 21 from a trauma incident and the orthodontic plan involved space closure of these spaces to reduce the restorative burden for the patient

• Hypomineralised first permanent molars, where a discussion needed to be had about the severity of hypomineralisation and either restorative pathways or the option of extraction and orthodontic space closure at an appropriate time that suited the child's situation and the orthodontic treatment plan

• Congenitally missing second premolars, where the decision needed to be made about retaining the deciduous molar or removing it depending on malocclusion and prognosis of the deciduous tooth

• Supernumerary teeth (and in some cases supplemental teeth) in the anterior maxillary region which was preventing the eruption of the upper incisors, where the decision needed to be made about which tooth had the better morphology to keep or was in a more ideal position for alignment with the rest of the dentition

These are just some of the cases that I had the privilege of learning about which sparked my curiosity into the orthodontic side of the treatment planning.

Observation

I would highly recommend this option if you are looking at finding out more about a specialty you may be interested in joining. This gives you an idea of what your life will be like in that specialty and if it aligns with your interests and career goals. As a part of the Queensland branch of the Australian Dental Association (ADA), I was lucky enough to be a part of the ADA mentoring program. This excellent program links you up with a mentor and you're able to put in preferences such as whether you'd prefer to meet face-to-face with your mentor or are happy for this to be online, and what specific areas of dentistry interest you. In my second year of the program as a mentee, I was fortunate enough to be linked to a friendly local orthodontist who was conveniently located in the same suburb as where I was working. Therefore, in my afternoons off I would drive down the road and pop into their practice which they had so kindly invited me in to observe.

It was a phenomenal experiencing watching his chairside manner and how he interacted with patients to make them feel comfortable. Even beyond the specifics of orthodontics, I learned how he was able to break down a complex situation into simple terms to communicate treatment options in a way that was easy to understand.

Once my curiosity about orthodontics had been established, this mentor was instrumental in guiding me through the orthodontic application process and how to apply to the different universities around Australia. I will go through this process in the next section.

Pathway into specialty training

If you're considering embarking on a journey to specialising, one big question you may have on your mind is - how do I get started? Most applicants would choose to apply for different states around Australia and in New Zealand to maximise their chances of getting into that specialty. Even within the same specialty, different universities may have different requirements or focus on different parts of the selection process.

Primary Dental Sciences (PDS) Examination

A key requirement for many programs is completion of the Primary Dental Sciences (PDS) examination. This encompasses six basic science topics: Anatomy, physiology, microbiology, cell biology and biochemistry, histology and pathology. This set of examination happens annually and involves two components. The first part is a 6 hour written examination and the second part is a viva voce examination on each of the 6 subjects that go for 10 minutes each. Fortunately, there is an orientation course which provides you with the material to prepare you for the exam. Ideally, you would want to start your preparation for this as early as possible and give yourself between 6-12 months to study for the exams. I have personally found that studying with a fellow primaries examinee allows for this experience to be more enjoyable and it's fantastic being able to bounce questions off each other.

Research

Research is a highly valued component of many specialty training pathways. As part of the DClinDent program, there's a research component which involves a thesis submission. Having any prior experience in research is extremely helpful, such as being a part of an undergraduate honours research project or experience with statistics. Going one step further, multiple colleagues have completed a Masters of Philosophy in their specialty of interest, which has assisted in their pathway into specialty training.

Referees

Strong referees are an important part of a competitive application for a specialty program. Having a well-regarded specialist in your field of interest would contribute significantly to making your application stand out. In my situation, having a supportive mentor made this very convenient as I did not have to look far to find a fantastic referee.

Interviews

Most universities would have an interview process that spans across one to two days. Components of the interview process can include: a critical appraisal of the literature, a practical component such as a wire-bending exercise or a bridge preparation, questions regarding treatment planning for cases (with dental models provided), essay-style questions about general dentistry or your specialty, or even trivia questions to test how you perform under pressure.

Final advice

For those considering entering a specialty program, seek out opportunities early, whether it be through connecting at CPD courses, study clubs or an observation opportunity at a specialist clinic or the university. Being proactive can be advantageous in getting yourself known in the community and is helpful in clarifying if the specialty is a good fit for you.

Bio

Dr Deborah Du completed her Bachelor of Dental Sciences degree at the University of Queensland, graduating with First Class Honours. She is currently undertaking a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry degree in Orthodontics at the University of Queensland and is in her final year of training. Deborah is passionate about building genuine relationships with her patients and gently guiding them through their orthodontic journey.