My undergraduate exposure to paediatric dentistry was 'patchy' at best. I was the student assigned the child that failed to attend or the child that needed impressions for an orthodontic appliance. Three years ago, I would have described my paediatric specialities as the acclimatisation visit and the general anaesthetic consent form. Still, I passed my competencies and graduated, despite never having given a child an ID block nor taken out a tooth from a conscious patient.

Working in dentistry has its ups and downs, so it’s important to do the things that help you stay happy at work.

Patients will not necessarily be in a position to differentiate between you, as a dental student, and a fully qualified dentist – so it’s up to you to make sure they know who you are.