General News
19 August, 2023
Students’ toothache
A COHORT of 159 third and fourth-year James Cook University dentistry students are struggling to complete their practical experience due to a shortage of supervisors.
The clinic’s director is calling on experienced dentists across the region to come on board and support the next generation of professionals.
Treating over 76,000 patients across its Cairns and Townsville clinics since opening in 2011, the JCU dental clinic has become essential for Far North Queenslanders and the beating heart of the service are its students.
Since COVID, there has been a decrease in supervisors, preventing students from getting practical experience and leading to patients, some who have travelled from as far as Cape York, having their appointments postponed.
Clinic director and professor in prosthodontics and operative dentistry John Abbott said the clinic urgently needed more supervisors to ensure the best experience for patients and students.
“We need dentists who we can rely on a weekly basis for a three-hour session. If we don’t have supervisors, the students don’t get the experience, and we have to juggle around with patients. Our last resort is to cancel,” Prof Abbott said.
The JCU clinic requires one supervisor for a group of eight students to run a three-hour session, the dentists can choose how many sessions a week to run, have experience of at least five years and registrations with AHPRA are required. However, no teaching or supervision skills are needed.
“This is not voluntary work, they will be paid and it’s a very rewarding experience,” Prof Abbott said.
“Many dentists are unsure because they think it’s hard to supervise but we have an induction and a walk through what we do. The first couple of times we shadow the person with someone who works here so they get a feel of the process.”
Current supervisor and dentist with over 40 years of experience Dr Steven Baker said being a supervisor was “very satisfying and it’s a good way to keep learning. I learned something today and I will incorporate it into my own practice”.
Prof Abbott said “our supervisors find this job so enjoyable once they get here,” he said. “It’s a good way to give back, and you’ll realise the students really need and want your guidance, socially, all dentists here now each other, it’s all very collegiate.”
