Dental student crowned Plymouth heat winner in Dental Skills Competition

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd)’s rcsed.ac.uk Faculty of Dental Surgery, together with sponsors Dentsply Sirona, is delighted to announce the Plymouth heat winner of its award-winning Dental Skills Competition – Zohaib Ahmed from the Peninsula Dental School.

The competition won the Innovation Award at the Scottish Dental Awards in 2019, which recognises those who push the boundaries of dentistry and find innovative ways to provide excellent patient care.

Aiming to discover the UK and Ireland’s best undergraduate dentist, heats will take place in 18 UK and Irish dental schools from October to December 2019. During these heats final year dental students will have the opportunity to showcase their clinical dental skills and the winner from each heat will be offered a travel and accommodation package to compete in the Grand Final of the competition taking place at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh on Thursday 5 March 2020.

RCSEd hopes the competition will complement the basic dental skills delivered at the undergraduate level in the UK and Ireland, and help develop self-improvement in post-graduation dentistry.

Explaining more about the competition, Dean of RCSEd’s Faculty of Dental Surgery, Professor Fraser McDonald said:

“The Dental Skills competition is a unique competition for aspiring young dentists to attempt practical evaluations in areas not often assessed in their normal environment. It allows access to the ambiance of the Royal College and its distinctive backdrop and buildings. Friendships forged in this arena are lifelong.”

Gerry Campbell, VP and General Manager UK at Dentsply Sirona commented:

"Following last year’s successful Dental Skills Competition, we are honoured and delighted to continue our partnership with The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh to celebrate the talented dental clinicians of tomorrow.

"This competition continues to bring the best out of students. Through our continued commitment to providing innovative solutions for better, faster, safer dentistry and our expansive education programme, it is our desire and privilege to support dental professionals throughout their career.”

The Grand Final of the competition will be followed by a dinner in the more than 500-year-old Edinburgh College at which presentations will be made to the winner and two runners-up. All participants in the competition will receive a certificate of participation and two year’s affiliation with The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Plymouth heat winner, Zohaib Ahmed, said: “I’m pleased to have had the opportunity to take part in the heats and even more delighted to have progressed through to the final.

“Representing Peninsula Dental School in the final is something I’m thoroughly looking forward to.

“It is a great chance to further my skills and to meet other dental students from across the UK.”

To find out more about the Dental Skills Competition, visit rcsed.ac.uk/skillscompdental or follow on social media via #CrowningGlory.