I completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Sports Dentistry at the UCL Eastman in 2015. I travelled to London one day a month for around a year to learn a range of different clinical and non-clinical sport-related issues in relation to dentistry; from diagnosis and treatment of an avulsed central incisor to concussion, sports physiology and psychology and how this can affect an athletes performance, nutrition and oral health.
Doing the Certificate opened many doors for me and allowed me to become part of several sports teams which included being the official dentist, and part of the medical staff, for professional and amateur sports team from rugby to cricket to football. Having the confidence with my training and ultimately my ability to be able to deal with on and off field oral and facial emergencies and trauma was helped by doing the course.
Once the MSc had been announced I did not hesitate in applying as I felt this would be a good continuation of where the postgraduate certificate left off and would only further my education in a niche part of dentistry, which is becoming more and more important in professional and amateur sport organisations.
Being a part of a wider medical team which includes sports medics, doctors, physiotherapists and psychologists allows me to have a greater understanding of what is required to help make an athlete successful. This course is so much more than just looking at orofacial trauma and considers all aspects of an athlete’s preparation and health, allowing the dentist to be a vital part of the sports medical team.
Education and prevention for athletes is of the utmost importance and if we want them to succeed then we must understand the physical and mental processes they go through during preparation and competition.
The MSc serves as the perfect place to hone your dental skills with regards to trauma and prevention and ultimately provide the highest quality all round care which will be beneficial when events such as the Olympics, Commonwealth games and World Cups come around. There is no doubt that Sports Dentistry has a future and I feel very lucky that I have begun my path in this speciality.
