Transition Times: Trying out a career helps you discover if it's right for you. This week: dentistry
Braces have made a big difference to the face of Ireland. The teeth of the younger generation, once twisted and fighting for a place in their owners' gums, have turned into a gleaming, perfectly straight set of pearly whites. Many of us now have more in common with Colin Farrell than with Shane MacGowan, at least on the dental front.
Dentistry is a fiercely competitive area to get into. An aptitude for science and an ability to clock up more than 560 points were necessary last year at Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork, the only colleges to offer it as an option. Bear in mind, when you choose your Leaving Certificate subjects, that you'll need two higher-level sciences.
As for work experience, it's probably not the best area to choose for the week or two that you get in transition year. Dr Jacinta McLoughlin, Trinity's director of undergraduate teaching and learning, recommends finding a dentist who knows you and asking if you can sit in on their surgery for a while.
"Because of the nature of the work, patient confidentiality and so on, it's not easy to accommodate somebody, but your own dentist might agree to let you observe for a day," she says.
What skills should you aim to develop if you're interested in dentistry? "Attention to detail is very important," she says. "Dentistry can be demanding like that, as the margin for error is very small. If you enjoy hobbies that require precision and those kind of skills, that can be useful."
Some people who qualify as dentists specialise, in areas such as orthodontics and oral surgery. Most end up in general practice, however, which means that good people skills are vital. "You're often dealing with people who are stressed, in pain or nervous when they come in to you."
Reassuring and understanding your patients is also very important. Most complaints received by the Dental Council involve patients who are unhappy with the way their dentist treated them personally.
Bear in mind that dentistry is an intensive course with long hours and short holidays. If the career appeals to you but you doubt your ability to earn enough points, you might want to consider the career of a dental nurse or dental hygienist.
To research any of these careers, have a look at these websites: Dublin Dental School & Hospital, Trinity College, http://web1.dental.tcd.ie; University Dental School & Hospital, Cork, www.ucc.ie/academic/denthosp; Irish Dental Association, www.dentist.ie
