Dentists – physicians of the mouth, or glorified carpenters?

Being a competent dental practitioner is about much more than just surgical skills, and it is important that we focus more broadly on our role as physicians of the mouth. Dental education, like any form of education, is a beginning and not an end. It starts the journey, equipping graduates with knowledge and skills that can then be built on, and indeed must be built on, over time. It also equips them to adapt as the profession changes and adapts. This week Matt talks about the issues of dental education, professional identity and what it means to be a dentist.