Supporting current students The Malcolm Jenkins and John Richards Travelling Scholarships are presented annually to up to two dental students from the School. The 2012-13 recipients, Dr Katarina Stead and Dr Damaris Santander Soria, presented their papers to alumni at last year’s Meeting. Who, why, when and what does Implant Treatment involve? Dr Katarina Stead (q BDS, Barts and The London, 2013), recipient of the Malcolm Jenkins Travelling Scholarship, writes: ‘This award enabled me to spend my fourth year elective in the Prosthodontics department at the Government Dental College and Hospital in Mumbai. It also enabled me to visit a country with a contrasting dental system to the UK. A survey carried out by the Indian Journal of Dental Research found that of the 63.6% answered questionnaires (1,500), the most preferred treatment
modality for restoring missing teeth in India was a dental implant. The implants and implant-supported prosthesis was therefore the focus of my elective as the university’s ‘Implant Centre’ offers different systems for the treatment of partially and complete edentulous patients. I sought to investigate and observe the following questions: who can have implants, why have dental implants, when is an implant suitable/unsuitable, and what does implant treatment involve, with the latter involving a case review and observation study of an endosseous implant surgery. Implants are a very versatile form of treatment and are effective both on their own and as part of an extensive body of work. With rapid advancements in the science of dental
Paediatric prevention: a snapshot of undergraduate teaching in Córdoba, Argentina Dr Damaris Santander Soria (q BDS, Barts and The London, 2013), recipient of the John Richards Travelling Scholarship, writes: ‘In recent years the UK has increasingly moved towards the prevention of oral disease, rather than focusing solely on restorative treatment. I was curious to learn whether this is the case elsewhere so I took the opportunity to travel to Argentina to visit the paediatric dentistry department of the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. My project sought to understand how undergraduates deal with prevention and the treatment of oral disease in their child patients. Whilst discussing patients with the students and their clinical tutors, I realised that
6 The London Hospital Dental Club
we face similar challenges. They have high rates of caries and the sugar content of food in general, not only that of sweets, is high. Most patients come from low socio-economic backgrounds which means that, in order to see any real improvement in a child’s oral health, the whole family has to be educated in the basics of general healthcare. Dentistry students therefore carry out introductory and motivational sessions before the children even set foot in the clinic,
implant treatment, they are fast becoming the most desired solution to replace missing teeth in patients of all ages. This award helped to fund a memorable experience and enabled me to expand my knowledge, as well as use my time in India to soak up its historical legacies. Meeting staff, students and patients from a broad variety of social and ethnic backgrounds also furthered my understanding of others. Thank you for providing me with the financial support for this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity. This unforgettable experience will help me to become a successful and informed clinician, working to make people smile!’
including puppet shows, videos and personalised talks on how to brush teeth and the importance of reducing the intake of sugary foods. As a result, when the children finally sit in the dental chair, there is already a good rapport between the patient and clinician, which in turn leads to more effective treatments and outcomes. This experience very much enhanced my passion for improving paediatric oral health through prevention, and taught me various communication methods. It also gave me the opportunity to visit the breathtaking Iguaçu Falls and the Andes, both of which are must-see sights in the region. I would like to express my gratitude to alumni for their generosity. This trip equipped me with a new set of skills and some great memories, which otherwise would not have been possible. Thank you!’
www.qmul.ac.uk/alumni/batlaa