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Dental Trainees' Committee

The Dental Trainees’ Committee is comprised of trainees from Undergraduate level up to post CCST across a range of specialities within the UK. The aim of the Committee is to provide a voice to all dental trainees and help facilitate solutions to issues. As a Committee we have the opportunity to liaise with wider committees, organisations and groups regarding trainee related issues, both within the college and elsewhere. We are developing a Buddy Scheme for dental trainees, we are involved in the development of educational events for dental trainees, liaise with the medical and surgical Trainees’ Committee on common issues and provide trainee insight to the College on additional wider dental and college issues.

Areas of activity

The committee has made significant contributions to a number of areas, most recently including:

  • Liaison with the Post Graduate Dental Deans regarding variation in dental trainee pay
  • Apparent variation in ARCP requirements between deaneries
  • Variation in study leave support for dental trainees across the UK nations and training specialties

It has been a successful year for our young dentists who are enthusiastically active within the College, for example our Dental Trainee's Committee, which is formed of young dentists from all stages of training. Meetings with postgraduate deanery colleagues in the Joint Committee for Postgraduate Training in Dentistry to confirm that Oral Surgery and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery will be considered as two separate dental specialties when applying to specialty training, is just one example of how the Dental Trainee's Committee is working hard to represent the needs and views of dentists early in their careers.

How do I get involved?

The Dental Trainees’ Committee members are elected for a period of two years, unless they finish training within this time. If you are interested in getting involved with the Dental Trainees' Committee please contact dentaltrainees@rcpsg.ac.uk.

Buddy Scheme

The Dental Buddy Scheme aims to provide Junior UK Dental Trainees with a senior ‘Buddy’ at specialty Training level who will be available for informal near-peer support and advice and to create a sense of belonging within the trainee dental community.

A Senior Buddy will normally be responsible for 1-2 Junior Buddies and the scheme is entirely flexible. Pairs can meet as often as they like, in person, via Zoom/Teams, or simply via phone/email/WhatsApp communication if preferred.

The aim is for the relationship to be an informal source of support from someone unrelated to the trainee formal supervision structure. Topics of discussion can be dictated by the needs of the Junior Buddies but have previously included advice regarding placements, CV writing and interview preparation.

Registrations for the scheme are expected to close on Friday 1 December 2023 for the next intake of Buddys, both Junior and Senior.

Benefits for the Junior Buddy

  • Having an ‘older sibling’ who can be contacted for support and advice.
  • Avoid the feeling of being lost in a large training programme.
  • Developing a personal sense of belonging as a UK dental trainee.

Benefits for the Senior Buddy

  • Introduction to the role of educational supervisor.
  • Development of coaching / leadership / management skills, supported by educational seminars at the College.
  • Certificates of participation will be awarded.

Please contact dentaltrainees@rcpsg.ac.uk to find out more.