Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – Cardiff (Eera)

Teeth! When I think of dentistry, not just teeth come to mind but rather the blend of science, art and nurture, to improve overall oral health. Aged ten, my interest was ignited from seeing my dad’s relief from severe pain after his root canal treatment. Seeing the difference amazed me as to how dentistry could help and initiated my curiosity to know more. 

By spending time in NHS and private clinics, hospitals and a summer school run by King’s College dental students, I gained a clearer perspective of dentistry. My favourite seminar was on tooth carving and filling, illustrating the creative side of dentistry. Over five weeks, I saw fillings at a practice in Brighton, orthodontics, salivary gland surgery and more. My most inspirational memory was at Guy’s Hospital – a patient had sadly lost all his teeth from oropharyngeal cancer. Part of his definitive treatment plan was placing implants in his upper and lower palate requiring specialist intricacy from the surgeon. Post-surgery, I observed the patient’s relief and overwhelming happiness. With a now intact dentition, the patient was able to smile, improve his speech and ease in eating. This showed me that a well prepared and executed treatment plan can tackle multiple difficulties that may arise during dental treatment to improve quality of life.

As both a Chemistry Prefect and President of the Dental Society at my School, I have developed
leadership, planning and commitment to engage other students. Seeing queues of students buying sugary drinks daily at my school, inspired me to write an article for my school newsletter, regarding their impact on caries and to raise awareness across the student body. As lead of DentSoc, I regularly give talks on various dental topics. My natural curiosity led to my participation in the Biology Olympiad and Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, which allowed me to apply my understanding to unfamiliar ideas. I completed my EPQ on the management of dental anxiety – (something I witnessed frequently during work experience) it saliently showed the importance of patient trust. Observing patient apprehension and how dentists dealt with this fascinated me.

Volunteering at the Links Centre for those with Downs Syndrome for two years has taught me
empathy and mindfulness of the vast requirements of different children. I learnt that patience and a calm tone best engages those with anxiety or complex learning needs. I enjoy helping the wider community though my involvement with several charities, including CRUK and feeding the homeless with SWAT, where I learnt the value of human compassion. Completing my Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition enriched my collaboration, preparing me for dentistry where teamwork is paramount when working alongside nurses and technicians. It has heightened my determination to discover innovative solutions, but the major lesson learnt was to never give up! My experiences as a tutor at Explore Learning, mentor at school and piano teacher enhance my ability to communicate, which is key in dentistry. I am adaptable and can tailor techniques to suit each pupil’s needs, encouraging them to achieve the best outcomes. I have great enthusiasm for music – playing piano at Diploma level. Performing in front of audiences requires confidence and handling pressure whilst maintaining control of hand movements – valuable skills for dentistry. I enjoy Bhangra dancing and performing at cultural events. On vacation I like to scuba dive.

I believe dentistry is the ideal career combining theoretical skills and scientific study, alongside my interpersonal skills from extra-curricular activities. This places me in a strong position to study dentistry. I love how a dentist can cherish the relationship they build with a patient over a long period of time, often with the reward of seeing the impact of their work immediately. I believe it will be a very fulfilling career and I am excited to play a key part in the future development of the profession.