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Upskilling early: Laying the foundations for a varied and rewarding dental career

BDJ In Practice volume 38, pages 228–229 (2025)Cite this article

For many young dentists, the voyage into practice can often feel like a balancing act between providing safe, efficient care and developing the advanced skills that will shape a lifelong career. As someone currently navigating this phase, I've learned that the first year in practice offers far more opportunity than one might initially expect. With the right mindset, even early-career clinicians can begin to build a varied, fulfilling path in dentistry.

After completing my Foundation Training last year, I took on a role as an associate dentist across two practices. Like many newly qualified colleagues, I initially focused on consolidating my clinical skills and building rapport with patients. However, I also felt a strong pull towards growth, developing a clinical edge and discovering what areas of dentistry excited me most, which also played a hand in how I chose these practices from the outset.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Barbican Dental Centre, London, United Kingdom

    Triman Ahluwalia

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  1. Triman Ahluwalia
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Correspondence to Triman Ahluwalia.

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Ahluwalia, T. Upskilling early: Laying the foundations for a varied and rewarding dental career. BDJ In Pract 38, 228–229 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41404-025-3180-9

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