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Hah? Dentistry courses need communication skills and “pendidikan moral”?
I thought you learn about human biology and how to fix “gigi”.
Developing social, emotional, cognitive and technical skills is crucial to becoming a great dentist. Your student life is not all about studying and scoring A’s!
If you are heading to dental school, harness these 10 study skills.
1. Perseverance
Did you think taking the dentistry route was going to be easy? Well, take out your pen and paper. You must fulfil these high entry requirements before you enter.
At SPM, UEC, O-levels or equivalent to Foundation
- 5Bs (SPM or Equivalent) or B4 (UEC),
- B Grades in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths/ Add-Maths)
- C Grades in BM and English
At Pre-U or Foundation to Degree
- CGPA 3.0 (A-levels or Foundation in Science), or
- 70% average (For CPU), or
- 33 points (IB Diploma), or
- CGPA 3.50 (Diploma in Health Sciences), and
- B Grades in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics/ Maths
After you enter the classroom, your 5 years of learning interpersonal, technical and social skills begin! It involves a lot of studying, hands-on training and polishing your soft skills. In Cheah Kher Huey’s success story, she recalled spending her weekends conducting experiments late into the night. This is why patience and perseverance are important. As long as you keep moving, you will get there.
2. Observation And Motor Skills
Any dental treatment requires a lot of precision, even tooth extractions. This is because having trained hands minimises the patients’ pain and fear.
So, keep your eyes wide open like this 👀whenever there are demonstrations in class. Watch closely how your experienced lecturers perform a root canal (or other procedures). Then, practise, practise and practise. Universities will typically provide ample dental chairs for students to apply their learning. For example, MAHSA University boasts one dental chair for each student.
3. Critical Thinking And Problem-solving
Every patient’s oral condition is different and there is more than meets the eye. A bad breath could mean bad oral hygiene or a rotten tooth. A “simple toothache” may be caused by sensitive or impacted teeth. Thus, your role as a dentist is to investigate, diagnose and find solutions.
Many universities hone these skills via Problem-Based Learning (PBL), a.k.a real-life scenario discussions. A 2006 study showed that, out of 110 participating dentistry students.
73.7% agreed that PBL sessions promote a better in-depth understanding of the topics
However, there are times when it is more than challenges relating to patients. They may come from your practice’s operational issues. (which brings us to our next 2 crucial skills for dentistry)
4. Communication Skills And Active Listening
To those who think you do not need active communication and listening, think again.
Communication skills and active listening are important for better patient care. Dentists understand their patients and their patients’ progress better through constant liaising. Moreover, these professionals work with different people in their journey, including nurses, lab technicians and business partners.
Apply this in your journey as a student. Try creating feedback cycles with your lecturers and/or peers. This is a golden opportunity to discover
- other ways of improving your technical skills
- what you did right and wrong
- your hidden strengths and weaknesses
- new findings in your research
5. Professionalism
Professionalism is a must to build trust with your coworkers, bosses and patients. It involves a lot of honesty and reliability. The goal? For better patient care (duh)
Modern dental schools adopt competency-based curricula rather than traditional content-based modules. Aside from the good old academics, they also focus on soft skills and attitudes for dental practices. From simulation chairs to lab work, there is plenty to explore.
And the good news is that your dentistry course trains you to be as cool as a cucumber under pressure
6. Technical Knowledge
As the saying goes “knowledge is power”. In healthcare terms, it is about giving diagnoses based on your knowledge. Trust us, using the correct terminology makes the treatment process more accurate. For example, when you say orthodontic treatment, your colleague will know you are referring to teeth realignment. Then, they can give you guidance and the support you need.
When you study dentistry, you learn
- lab skills
- dental terminology and procedures
- infection control
- clinical mannerism
In addition, universities enhance your education and student life with amazing facilities, such as
- training stations
- on-campus clinics
- pathology labs
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7. Eager To Learn And Proactiveness
Dental studies never sleep and are constantly evolving. As such, dentists in Malaysia must maintain Continuing Professional Development. It is a regulatory criterion by the Malaysian Dental Association to ensure practitioners have the latest knowledge. Meaning, you must update yourself through academic activities like
- research
- self-study
- attending workshops, congresses or conferences
- publishing articles in journals or reports
- enrolling into courses
If you are the shy shy type of person, now is the time to start asking questions and assisting in dental procedures!
No one knows 100% of everything about oral health, not even your teachers (Whoops). Your proactiveness can create a two-way learning environment for those around you.
8. Business And Organisational Skills
Do you dream of owning your clinic? Then, you need to have business and organisational skills in your skill kit. They help manage your business, patient records, and inventory.
For future practitioners, the Ministry of Health Malaysia listed several core abilities to have, including:
- Policy development and planning in public health
- Legislation and enforcement to protect public health
- Clinical governance and strategic management in oral health care services
Even if you do not offer dental services, these study skills are critical in the professional setting. After entering the workforce, there are many organisational layers and protocols for you to navigate through with finesse.
9. Flexibility And Adaptability
Are you afraid of going to the dentist? Do you get anxious hearing the dental drill go brrrr? Don’t worry, you are not alone.
Every patient has their fair share of unpleasant experiences. Several doctors told CNA Life that dental anxiety and dental phobia hold patients back from seeking treatment.
While practising your clinical procedures, try tailoring your treatment to your patients.
Let’s say, a kid is crying out of fear before getting his tooth removed. Pediatric dentists always have toys and playtime on hand to calm the child. They will also explain each step of the way to reassure and help the patients understand.
10. Humanism And Dental Ethics
Lastly, we are only human. We live and we learn.
As an aspiring dentist, you can give your patients a safety blanket when tending to their oral health. Be it starting a chat or giving a pat on the shoulder, any little encouragement helps. Meanwhile, give yourself and your coworkers respect and kindness. Learn from mistakes and be ready to work through disagreements. If you can do those things, you are on your way to success.
Universities have community-related modules and clubs where you provide dental services through the on-campus dental clinic. There, you can support the people while honing your abilities. These activities allow you to practice teamwork, professionalism, adaptability, and empathy.
Course Guides Recommendation
Check out our Guide on the Dentistry Course In Malaysia.
If you are looking for other options, check out our full list of Popular Course Guides In Malaysia.
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