The Dental Job Diaries Episode 11: Career Progression in Clyde Munro with Operations Director Emma O’Shea
In this episode, Emma O’Shea, Operations Director at Clyde Munro Dental Group speaks about her role in the group, her journey in the field and the possibilities of progression within Dentistry and Clyde Munro:
‘’At Clyde Munro, we are very passionate about working with each individual on their career growth. There is so much opportunity in the group, which was one of the reasons that made me join Clyde Munro. They are very committed to your personal development.’’
Exclusive Digital Dentistry Session for Dundee Dental School Students
Clyde Munro Dental Group hosted a Digital Dentistry Session tailored exclusively for dental school students at the University of Dundee. Led by Callum Graham, Clinical Director at Clyde Munro, the session delved into the latest advancements in digital dentistry and AI utilised at Clyde Munro.
The session included demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies such as Pearl AI, 3D printing, and hands-on experience with digital scanners. Additionally, students had the opportunity to network with peers and industry professionals during a lunch & networking break.
This informative session provided valuable insights into the future of dentistry and offered a platform for students to engage with innovative technologies and industry experts.
Key advantages of having an in-house Clinical Team for Dental Practices
Mentoring and support are beneficial in dentistry for many reasons. They create a positive culture that facilitates knowledge-sharing and enhances teamwork, enabling individuals to grow and develop effectively. The ultimate impact is improved patient care and treatment outcomes, as well as greater job satisfaction for clinicians.
Dentists across Clyde Munro are supported in every possible way, ensuring that they have the equipment, training and clinical support they need to deliver exceptional patient care and thrive in their careers. Part of the organisation’s commitment to professional support is the expansion of a dedicated Clinical Support Team.
Having recently grown, this team is available for dentists across Scotland to contact with case-specific queries, career development questions or any other questions relating to the clinical care provided to patients. The goal is for the Clinical Support team to bridge the gap between those in practice and those in operational and administrative positions, ensuring synergy throughout the organisation for the benefit of our patients and our professionals.
The team consists of practising clinicians who have extensive experience in dentistry. They also all have different skills and clinical backgrounds, meaning they have a diverse range of experiences and areas of interest to draw on as they help colleagues in their endeavours.
Leading them is Callum Graham, Clinical Director at Clyde Munro. He says:
“Mentoring and support are very important for dentists at all stages of their careers. From early careers to experienced dentists, the Clinical Support Team can help with treatment planning for everything from endodontics to orthodontics, routine care, implants and more. We are a clinical business that is clinically driven, so we need that peer-to-peer contact to provide help, support and encouragement to dentists should they want it. Having expanded our team recently, we now have more opportunity to connect with more clinicians across the group.
“With first-hand experience of the challenges and nuances of dentistry today, we are well-placed to offer appropriate guidance and support for peers. I have been fortunate enough to be involved with postgrad education, to trial new techniques and try innovative technologies – and I absolutely loved the variety. I want to help instil this ethos and passion for dentistry across the group. There are so many great dentists out there and so much innovation with the digital revolution, this is an exciting time to be involved and I want to help as many people as possible to get the most from it all.”
Mr Charlie Evans also advocates for the opportunity to share knowledge, discuss problems, and help each other, saying:
“To be able to share concerns, promote successes and be on hand to offer second opinions to varying clinical situations is important, whatever stage of their career a clinician is at. Dentistry can be isolating, even when you are in a large team, so external clinical support, feedback and review should be encouraged.
“During my time as a practice owner, I felt it was important to provide stability within the practice team. This brought familiarity for the patients, building their trust and therefore increasing productivity and enjoyment for the dental team. I aim to bring these qualities to my role in the Clinical Support team.”
A colleague who received mentoring and support from Charlie, commented:
“As my vocational trainer, I found Charlie supportive and approachable. He was a very good communicator and used this to share his extensive knowledge in all areas of general dental practice. I left my training post feeling well prepared for associate dentistry.”
Several individuals on the Clinical Support Team offer many years of experience from different areas, ensuring that they can help peers with a vast range of challenges and queries. Dr David McColl brings more than 37 years of experience working within NHS dentistry to his role on the Clinical Support Team. He details a recent example of how he’s helped a colleague:
“One of our experienced dentists and I recently had a discussion regarding a challenging case. We were faced with a high caries rate, loss of posterior support, the recent loss of an anterior tooth and upper denture provision. The patient was not adapting well to the denture and had requested an upper anterior bridge. The conditions for such a bridge were far from ideal and an implant was not an option due to affordability. Discussion on case management, patient expectation and what would be deliverable under the NHS enabled a way forward in this challenging situation.
“I’m very happy to help practitioners find their way through the complex system under which we operate within the NHS as part of the Clyde Munro Clinical Support Team.”
Bruce Duguid also has decades of experience, having worked in dentistry for 28 years and with Clyde Munro for about 2 years. He highlights the benefit of having access to support within an extensive network of professionals:
” The biggest reason I enjoy working with Clyde Munro is the huge support network available. It’s a very large family of dentists, rather than an isolated group of practitioners.
Dentistry can be a very lonely and isolated profession – although you are surrounded by people in surgery throughout the day, you’re often working on your own and solely responsible for your patients’ care. As such, it’s nice to have other professionals to reach out to and get support from if needed. That’s why I was more than happy to join the Clinical Support Team.
With a background in teaching – both in dentistry and aviation – I appreciate and really enjoy being able to mentor and engage with students and young dentists. Helping to create a network of support for dentists at Clyde Munro is quite unique and something that will stand us in good stead as dental care providers going forwards.”
Further demonstrating the breadth of expertise that professionals can access by contacting the Clinical Support Team, Mary Smith offers valuable advice regarding complaints handling and compliance. She comments:
“The key aspect of my role on the Clinical Support Team is to help clinicians and practice managers to handle complaints. It is crucial that professionals realise there is an entire support team here ready and willing to help with any aspect of any issue that arises. No-one has to go it alone! I also aid practices with their compliance, including with regards to clinical audits and ensuring that associates stay up to date with the necessary certification. You can always pick up the phone and speak to someone for guidance.”
We are proud of the supportive culture we have built across Clyde Munro and strive to maintain this reputation for many years to come. Our Clinical Support Team is just one example of how we make sure we’re here for our professionals – discover other ways we help by contacting the team!
If you are looking to become part of our supportive network, view our career opportunities today!
Dental students from Scottish Universities visit Clyde Munro’s Training Academy
As part of its commitment to supporting professional education at every point during clinicians’ careers, Clyde Munro recently delivered training for dental students from Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow. Students were invited to the group’s very own state-of-the-art Advanced Dentistry & Clinical Skills Centre in Perth, where experienced clinicians offered personal insights and practical guidance.
The training covered exciting topics that were selected in order to expand on the standard curriculum and expose students to new clinical experiences. Training for Dundee students explored clinical photography and digital dentistry, and Glasgow students covered digital dentistry and AI-driven technologies. Dr Amanda Bassey-Duke delivered these two training days and says:
“The students loved it and it was a pleasure to present the training days! The discussion around AI technology in dentistry was particularly popular, as it is technology that many students had previously only dreamt of.
Clyde Munro practices are among the few in Scotland to have access to such equipment. We have everything from in-house CT machines to intraoral scanners, AI-assisted radiography diagnostic software, CEREC machines and an in-house, fully equipped training centre.
Students were impressed to discover that the dentures –which usually take 2 to 3-hour appointments – can be done in just 15 minutes with the latest technology! I think it’s important for students to know what’s available after training and that all of this can be accessed here in Scotland. Clyde Munro has invested a lot in its facilities and in training dentists to ensure they can maintain an exceptional standard of dentistry.
It’s been a fantastic place to work with a forward-thinking team. They also follow through on their promises – I was promised mentorship and access to quality tools, and that’s exactly what I got when I joined.”
Andrew El-Miligy, is a final year dental student from Dundee Dental School. He comments about the day:
“I thoroughly enjoyed how welcoming everyone was. The facilities were fantastic and, overall, it was a really inspiring, comprehensive and useful day, showing why we are putting in all of this hard work at dental school!
The content was extremely relevant to life as a dentist in primary care and definitely expanded on what we are taught in dental school. In particular, I really enjoyed the clinical photography morning with Dr Greg Bowes. This is definitely something that I am wanting to implement during VT and to receive hands-on experience all morning was invaluable.
Regarding Clyde Munro, it seems like a very well-connected dental group with a great network, which is forward thinking and would help to stimulate your professional development.”
Glasgow student, Lara Monaghan, shares her experience:
“I thoroughly enjoyed the entire day and feel very privileged that the Clyde Munro team gave up their Saturday to teach us. I thought that the speakers were very engaging and everyone was very welcoming.
“Although we had received teaching on intraoral scanners in university, it was very beneficial hearing about the pros and cons of using them in the practice. This day also increased my understanding of dentistry from a business perspective. I found this the most enjoyable part as I would want to use the technology in the future. It was also interesting learning about how the intraoral scanner can be used to streamline the process of providing crowns.
“It was clear that Clyde Munro keeps up with the latest technology – I had no idea that something like Pearl AI had been developed let alone was being used across the country to improve patient care. I was very impressed with the training facility too, as it shows Clyde Munro is helping clinicians to learn and improve. It was also great getting to see a state-of-the-art dental clinic like the one in Perth – it is clinics like that we dream of working in when we qualify. I would like to thank Clyde Munro; it was very kind of them to organise transport to Perth and provide food for the day. It was a privilege and a pleasure.”
When Aberdeen dental students visited the Clyde Munro Advanced Dentistry & Clinical Skills Centre, they focused on composite restorations and material science, led by Dr Bruce Duguid. He adds:
“This was an opportunity to show students what a ‘normal’ GDP, who works hard in practice, can achieve. It was also great to work in our wonderful training centre for the day, getting students out of their normal learning environment and away from the usual pressures to have some fun while trying new things. The new composite materials and techniques we covered were accessible to all students from every year – they all did very well and it was well-received. In fact, it was lovely to see such an enthusiastic and wide-eyed group of dental students and reassuring to know that the future of our profession is in safe hands.”
Aberdeen Dental Society student shares his thoughts on Clyde Munro’s Training Facility
In January, Clyde Munro Dental Group organised a theory and practical session about Composites at the Advanced Dentistry and Clinical Skills centre in Perth. Sixteen students took part in this exclusive training day lead by Bruce Duguid, Associate Dentist and part of the Clinical Team at Clyde Munro.
Jack Ferguson, the social representative at Aberdeen Dental Society, attended this exciting day. Here’s what he had to say about the experience:
When we arrived at the Clyde Munro training facility in Perth, we were greeted by Nora who brought us in for breakfast. The coffee and bakes were a lovely touch, which helped us get settled straight into the talk from Dr Diguid about the history, science, and art of composite restorations.
It was interesting to hear from him as well as find out more about Coltene products and what they bring to the market. After the talk was finished, we went straight into the clinical skills room. The facilities were amazing, and I was able to use a microscope for the first time – game changer! We were doing class 2 restoration preps during the first session, which was supervised by Dr Diguid. It was helpful to see different techniques from him and my peers, as this type of preparation can be difficult.
The final session was filling our preparations from earlier. I unfortunately did not have an awful lot of time to fill my own cavity, but watching more experienced clinicians utilise the full capability of Coltene composite products has inspired me to develop my technique further.
Overall, a great day was had by everyone who went down. Thanks again to Clyde Munro for having us. It was a pleasure.
Looking to host a session at our Advanced Dentistry & Clinical Skills Centre? This facility is now open for external hire. To learn more, contact us.
Supporting dentists from all walks of life
For any dentists looking to permanently move to the UK from overseas, or those who have already, finding the right job is an essential part of a successful experience. Though true for any clinician, navigating the additional challenges that can arise when relocating means that the team around you and the support available is even more important.
Though she moved to the UK in 2016, Dr Despoina Christidou realised in the following years just how crucial the team she worked within was for her job satisfaction.
Here she shares her story:
“I qualified from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and practised dentistry in the country for the next 31 years, including in my own private practice. However, when my personal circumstances changed and challenges arose with the organisation, I took this as an opportunity to try something completely different.
“I had been thinking about relocating for some time and Scotland was really appealing. I was interested in the history of the country and both the scenery and people made the move attractive. I moved to Scotland almost 9 years ago now and I have not been disappointed.
“At the time that I relocated, the greatest challenge was learning all the new regulations and requirements. I had not been aware of several rules until working in a UK dental practice so there was a steep learning curve in the first 6 months. During this and the next few years, I learnt exactly what it is that I value most in the places that I work. It’s not the instruments, the technologies or the look of practice that makes the biggest difference for me – though these are still important – it’s the team around me.”
In 2023, Despoina was looking for the next step to further her career in Scotland. This is when she turned to Clyde Munro.
“When I came across a vacancy at KF Dental in Edinburgh with Clyde Munro, I was instantly interested,” she continues. “My initial impression and further research suggested it would be a great place to work, so I took my chances and moved over – and I’m very happy that I did!
“The team has been brilliant. I really appreciate the way that the practice manager runs the practice and helps everyone who works there. There is always support available and motivation for all the team; I love that. I have also been checking the Training Academy courses as I am very keen to make the most of these, with different topics covered throughout the year.”
For any clinicians thinking about permanently moving to the UK, or those who have already done so and are considering their job options, Despoina emphasises the importance of the team once again:
“It’s essential to look for a good team in the practice and the wider organisation to support you, motivate you and help you accomplish everything that you want to. I have found this to be true across Clyde Munro so I would certainly recommend them to colleagues.
“I’d also like to express how good it is living in Scotland. You have the opportunity to do many things and explore everything the country has to offer around work!”
If you are new to the UK and looking to work as a dentist, Clyde Munro understands the intricacies that come with relocating from overseas. In practice, we provide the specific training necessary for working within dentistry in Scotland. We offer webinars to update your knowledge and ensure access to mentors who can assist with clinical cases. Not only do they provide one-to-one support and case discussions, but they also supervise your professional development to ensure you’re on the right track. In addition, relevant information and support is offered as clinicians become familiar with the SDR system in Scotland, which is very different to the working structure for dentists in other countries.
Outside the practice, Clyde Munro provides assistance with opening a Scottish bank account, finding appropriate accommodation and even sourcing hire cars to help clinicians get settled.
Whether you are new to the UK or searching for your next UK-based role, find out how Clyde Munro could help you enjoy the next chapter of your life.
Find out more about the career opportunities and vacancies available at Clyde Munro. Get it touch today joinus@clydemunrodental.com
Banbeath Dental Practice, Leven
Nestled in the heart of Leven, this advanced dental practice offers three state-of-the-art surgeries, each equipped with the latest technology for precision care.
Conveniently situated a short walk from the beach and with Dundee and Edinburgh just a 40-minute drive away, its location ensures accessibility. Their community-oriented approach is enhanced by Jennifer Leslie, the Practice Manager, to ensure smooth operations and patient support. In Banbeath Dental Practice, they blend technology, accessibility, and community engagement to provide exceptional dental care.
Hear from our International Team Members
Meet Despoina and Vicky, Dentist and Practice Manager at KF Dental, part of Clyde Munro Dental Group. Discover why they call Scotland their new home and why they chose Clyde Munro to advance their dental career!
The Dental Jobs Diaries Episode 9: Inside Scoop with Clyde Munro’s VT Trainer, Dino Loizodes!
Dino Loizides, Associate Dentist at Dental Care Perth, talks about his experience becoming part of a group, the journey of the Advanced Dentistry and Clinical Skills Centre, his experience as a VT Trainer and more.
Scotland’s calling!
There are many benefits to living in Scotland. Not least of these are the stunning scenery and great outdoor pursuits, a vibrant culture, fascinating history, excellent education and healthcare, lower cost of living than other areas of the UK and a booming economy.
Clyde Munro also offers an array of benefits for all members of their practice teams across the country.
These include dedicated career development pathways and educational schemes, competitive salaries, paid GDC fees, enhanced family-friendly policies, ‘you days’ (for moving house, getting married etc.), an extensive support network and help developing in your digital dental journey.
Could your next career move take to you Scotland? Find out more about what Clyde Munro could offer you today.
Find out more about the career opportunities and vacancies available with Clyde Munro, get in touch todayjoinus@clydemunrodental.com
