DT News - UK - Lucky 13, or how it is to work for a dental group

Dr Ravinder Lall, UK

Thu. 15 February 2018

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I live in London and work as an associate at Victoria Promenade Dental Practice in Northampton, so I usually set my alarm for 5.30 a.m. to give myself time for my commute and to go to the gym before starting in the practice. As a predominantly NHS practice, which is part of Rodericks Dental, my day-to-day schedule is very busy, especially as I am a joint foundation trainer.

A typical day for me is centred on treating patients and offering assistance to the trainee as required (we train one graduate each year). The time that I spend on providing advice and guidance will vary, but for assessments and to ensure progress is reviewed, we allocate “protected time” of at least two hours a week.

In addition to my responsibilities as a foundation trainer, depending on the type of appointment, I see an average of 30 to 40 patients each day. There are some days that are dominated by certain treatment types, such as root canal therapies, and others that are a mixed bag. I have an interest in restorative dentistry and also provide implants. As a whole, though, the practice’s focus is on prevention and providing a wide range of treatments. As I have been providing treatments and caring for many of my patients for 13 years, the majority of my patients are now stable.

The rest of my clinical hours are taken up by implants and cosmetic orthodontics, which are two areas of dentistry that I have become very interested in over the last five years. The opportunity to become a Six Month Smiles provider was actually offered to me by Rodericks, who subsidised the course for a number of associates to meet the growing demand from patients. The majority of my implant cases are referred to me internally by local practices from within the group, thanks to the ready-made network that we have within Rodericks.

For me, one of the greatest plus points of my job is that a number of the directors have clinical experience. I have been with Rodericks almost from the very beginning, when there were just four practices within the group, so I know first hand that Rodericks’ priority lies in providing a quality service for patients. They are also all approachable, helpful and always willing to provide advice on career progression. Because of the focus on quality patient care, I was allowed to take some time off for my Diploma in Restorative Dentistry. That was before regulations were introduced for contracts to include time off for continuing professional development and training separate to annual leave, so the group has always been very accommodating in that respect. Besides that, working for a group has ensured that I am well placed when it comes to training opportunities, a referral network and discounts for dental equipment, such as loupes, as well as access to a number of benefits outside of work.

Above all else, however, I am able to deliver a high standard of care day in and day out, because the practice’s main priority has always been our patients’ needs. There might be certain cosmetic treatments that are not offered within the NHS framework, but we do the very best that we can for patients, especially when it comes to treatments and presenting all of the options available. One just needs to look at the protocols and systems in place, which have been designed to simplify administrative duties to maximise clinical time, to see that patients come first. This was not always the case in the independent practice where I completed my foundation training, where the administrative side was more onerous, so when I started with Rodericks I noticed the difference straight away. That is not to say, of course, that this is true of all independents or indeed of corporates and groups; I have just been lucky to find myself in a situation where my priorities align with my employers’.

Ultimately, it is about finding a practice or company that works for one. For young dentists that require mentorship or ongoing support, for instance, it is always worth considering group settings that are able to provide the level of nurturing needed. Likewise, for those with ambitions to become a principal, it might be that working for an independent practice is a step in the right direction, though groups should not be ruled out.

I have been very fortunate in my role as an associate and I have enjoyed the last 13 years immensely. Here’s to the next 13!

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