Should dental technicians play a greater role in the education of foundation dentists?

Abstract

In some dental foundation training (DFT) practices, many generations of foundation dentists (FDs) have benefited from being encouraged to build close working relationships with dental technicians. Recent work suggests that new graduates may require additional support with the technical aspects of clinical work due to reduced clinical exposure in undergraduate education. This opinion paper therefore describes how involvement of technical colleagues in the education of FDs could provide important additional feedback on their work and draws upon the concept of 'spiral learning'. It goes on to argue that these opportunities are vital in building mutual respect and the ability to communicate effectively with members of the dental team. Ingraining this approach in FDs is important for their future careers and for the dental profession.