Clinical experience of UK dental students: a longitudinal study from the student's perspective

Aims This study aimed to understand the overall experiences of UK dental students, in a longitudinal study, investigating preparedness and confidence for clinical practice over time, from final year of study to the end of dental foundation training/vocational training (DFT/VT), and the transition between.Methods Three phases of in-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of 17 final-year dental students in the UK, from their final year of study to the end of their DFT/VT year from April 2023-May 2024, with pre-discussion surveys also sent to all respondents to gain quantitative metrics.Results Throughout the respondents' early professional journey, confidence and preparedness were found to peak and trough, initially dropping at the beginning of DFT/VT and then growing over time, with quantitative findings mirroring key qualitative themes.Conclusion DFT/VT bridges the gap between dental school and practice and is vital in preparing dental students for the real world. Recognition of differences between dental school and practice would ease the transition for UK dental students.