DTUK1910

17Endo TribuneJuly 19-25, 2010United Kingdom Edition To place an order, or for an “in-surgery” demonstration, FREEPHONE 0500 295454 ext 223 Julie or 224 Adrian Trial kit of tips £49.50* 20 tips, 0.25g each (Dentin: A1/B1, A2/B2, A3/D3, Enamel Universal) 1 × One Coat 7.0 (5ml) + 50 × Microbrushes 1 × SwissFlex (1 Mandrel + 11 Discs) Trial kit of syringes £49.50* 3 syringes, 4g each (Dentin: A1/B1, A2/B2, A3/D3) 1 × One Coat 7.0 (5ml) + 50 × Microbrushes 1 × SwissFlex (1 Mandrel + 11 Discs) Test both Synergy D6 and Swissflex for just £49.50* *The offer is valid up to 31.07.2010. All prices are recommended promotional prices / sales prices. The price charged will be the current depot price. All prices are subject to the statutory rate of value added tax and delivery charges. The current price charged may be higher or lower. Art.3243 Art.3244 D6 ad - Swissflex offer 2 8/6/10 09:50 Page 1 I t was a cold November morn- ing in Falkirk, one of those depressing days when things weren’t likely to go my way. I had been doing long hours for a week so I was feeling drained, and to make things even worse, I was suffering with a fever too. Just as I was anticipating things getting worse, the phone rang. This turned out to be one of the best moments of my week. It was Dr John Hall from Warwick Dentistry, part of the University of Warwick, who wanted to dis- cuss the application that I had submitted to apply for a place on Warwick Dentistry’s new MSc in Endodontics programme. After a telephone interview with Dr Hall where we discussed my background, current skills and knowledge in more detail, Dr Hall then advised me that I had been selected for the course! I was on cloud nine and could not believe that I was going to be part of one of the most prestig- ious institutions in the UK. This didn’t just mean another degree; it meant that I would experience a huge learning and knowledge opportunity from the experi- enced and well-qualified faculty at Warwick. Although driving 600 miles every month just to get to the University was slightly incon- venient, my passion for this field helped me to shrug off such problems. It was made easier that the course is part-time, giv- ing me the flexibility to fit the 10 taught days around my normal working practice schedule. I was really excited on my first day at Warwick Dentistry. There were rigorous classes throughout the induction pro- gram, but my motivation kept me going without any tiredness. The faculty at Warwick One the first day I was intro- duced to Course Leader, Prof Liviu Steier. This meeting en- dorsed that I had made the cor- rect decision in applying for the MSc programme. Prof Steier has a warm, welcoming and friendly personality. He immediately put me at ease and introduced me to Mr Giampiaro Rossi Fedele and Dr Sia Mirfendereski, the fellow teaching faculty. I was also intro- duced to the course co-ordinator, Mrs Rose Bradley, who was a charming and helpful lady. I was then introduced to my fellow students, who came from diverse backgrounds and a wealth of experience. At that point, I was concerned I would the least experienced amongst the group, but in reality the teaching faculty and the experi- ence of my fellow students, pro- vided me with any help and sup- port that I needed. The course induction The first few days gave us an in- duction. This involved taking the tour of the University. I was im- pressed by the facilities of War- wick Dentistry, which included a library, IT facilities and support, student societies and accommo- dation to name a few. Over the next few days, we went through the course sylla- bus, which included guides and explanations of the contents of each year. Year one would con- sist of five modules and four assignments. Each module had theory sessions and a hands- on class. The theory side of the course consisted of two parts – general reading and individual reading. The general reading consisted of research papers on selected topics, followed by group discus- sions. The individual reading element involved assigning spe- cific papers to students for read- ing, followed by presentation and analysis to my fellow students. Hands-on Sessions As a clinician, the hands-on content of the programme was what I was most interested in. To my satisfaction, I found that each module had a hands-on section spread over a full day. These sessions involved work- ing with state-of-the-art equip- ment, including microscopes. This brought a new meaning to my perceptions of endodon- tics, and I realised that micro- scopes make up an important part of a root-canal treatment armamentarium. During these sessions, we were introduced to different fil- ing, ultrasonic and obturation techniques. Some of these ses- sions were led by well-known endodontists, who came from all over the world to teach us on a variety of modern concepts that are used in endodontics today. The best aspect of these hands-on classes was the per- sonalised supervision provided by the teaching faculty. I was by no means disappointed with the sessions and feel that this MSc strikes the perfect balance between practical sessions and theoretical knowledge. Problem-based learning This concept of teaching was interesting and extremely effec- tive. This meant that all the clini- cal scenarios that students came across in their clinics and at the hands-on sessions were high- lighted and discussed in detail. Prof Steier and Mr Fedele would explain this under the light of existing literature and their own experience, further adding to our knowledge as students. Writing Assignments During the first year, students have to complete a total of four assignments. These range from a variety of practical to theoretical tasks. These assignments were useful as they were all purpose- built and ensured definitive learning and the achievement of set goals. Regional Training Centre I believe that watching Prof Steier and Mr Fedele perform endodon- tic treatments was the most valu- able part of the course. This ele- ment consisted of five days, and included a variety of simple and more complex endodontic treat- ments at the regional training centre at Wimpole Street, Lon- don. The regional training centre is equipped with the lat- est technology for carrying out advanced procedures and teaching students. Every treat- ment session was followed by a group discussion with an in- depth analysis of the procedure. My conclusion I find myself extremely grateful to have been given the opportu- nity to study for the MSc in En- dodontics at Warwick Dentistry. I am immensely satisfied with the amount of learning that I have received, and it has certainly helped me to be more confident in my field. I now feel that I have a greater command of the field of endodontics, which in turn helps me to treat my patients in a more effective manner. DT Back to school Ali Baloch tells Dental Tribune how the MSc in Endodontics at Warwick University has been one of the most positive steps in his career to date About the author Dr Aitazaz Ali Baloch BDS (Hons) gradu- ated with a distinction in Orthodontics from de’Montmorency Col- lege of Dentistry La- hore, Pakistan in 2004. He worked at a multi- disciplinary group practice in Islamabad for a couple of years and developed special interest in Endodontics and Oral surgery. He moved to UK in 2007 and cleared his Overseas Registration Exams. Dr Baloch then worked as an SHO in Oral and Maxillofacial sur- gery at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Southend University Hospitals where he underwent training. He is now prac- tising in Falkirk, Scotland as a Dentist with special interest in Endodontics. He is also a part time student in MSc Endodontics at Warwick University. Some of the radiographs from the latest hands-on demonstration