Sydney Dental School: something to sink your teeth into
Jaime Notman of OzTREKK recently got the opportunity to visit the University of Sydney Dental School—while class was in session! In addition to getting a tour of the facilities (which were impressive, she says) she also had the opportunity to check in with some first- and second-year students as they were in the prosthetics labs and the simulation clinic. Here are some highlights from her visit:
Tell us a little about the dental school
Well, first, the dental school is off campus—it’s not right on main campus, but is a few minutes away in the Dental Hospital. The school is probably about two kilometers from the eastern point of Camperdown, still right in the heart of the city.
The building itself is totally retro. It’s got the classic Art Deco windows and rounded staircases (which I love), but the “retro” part pretty much ends there. It’s chalk full of pretty high-tech tools and instruments and, well, has the feel of a world-leading dental school. Actually, Sydney Dental School is currently ranked #3 in Australia for dentistry!
What was it like walking around during class?
Well, we weren’t walking around during class—we were literally walking through class. First, there were tons of OzTREKKers, so there were lots of familiar faces from the Pre-dep seminar and OzTREKK Orientation that we held earlier in the year.
Second, it was buzzing. It was about the third or fourth week of school for the first-year students and they were already into the carvings and other dental techniques (it’s right about here that I realized where my dental knowledge ends!). They were really excited to be there and certainly looked the part, that’s for sure.
Anything that stood out for you?
The biggest thing I remember a student saying is, “I feel like I’m actually in dental school, you know?” He mentioned he had friends back in Canada who were still doing general courses on anatomy and physiology while he was spending hours each week working on his carving techniques—and that is the fun part. “Heaps of hands-on experience” was actually the statement! While there still is plenty of coursework, he felt the time in the labs was a great way to constantly remember why he was there and to refine his skills and understanding of the practice.
And, certainly, the tooth vending machine. That is not something you see every day, that’s for sure!
Any final thoughts?
Many, really. The students we met with after our tour were really helpful and honest. They felt really supported by the faculty and by their professors; if a student is struggling or requires additional help, the faculty is there to assist.
As international students, they spoke really highly of a Sydney Dentistry Survival Guide, which is full of great advice on how to survive dental school, Sydney, and the uni experience!
One of the students recommended to spend a little time researching your holiday trips back home and to exhaust the multi-city layovers. He said it’s a great, cheap way to get a taste of Asia or Hawaii!
They also all agreed that—especially as international students—you should make sure to get involved and participate in as many activities and events as possible. Very quickly you will have a strong network of friends, which makes for a much more exciting Aussie experience!
And they definitely spoke very highly of Adam Smith, our Australian Dental Schools Admissions Officer. When the group of us from OzTREKK walked in the room there was a little disappointment initially when the students learned that Adam wasn’t with us!
University of Sydney Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
The Sydney Dental School’s Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) is a graduate-entry program that has been purposefully designed to adhere to the well-rounded course structure of the North American postgraduate model, but has also maintained the sophisticated clinical training for which the University of Sydney has come to be renowned, giving students an applicable knowledge of dental health from the community to the laboratory.
Program: Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Location: Sydney, New South Wales
Semester intake: February
Duration: 4 years
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