Satnam Singh Virdee, a restorative dental core trainee at Cardiff Dental Hospital, has won the Young Dentist Endodontic Award 2016.
Announcing the winners, Endodontic Practice‘s editor-in-chief Dr Julian Webber, who created the award, said he was impressed and proud of all the entries in 2016. The decision process was ‘challenging’ and he and the judges, endodontist Dr Trevor Lamb and Professor Andrew Eder, noted how difficult it had been to rank three fine entries.
He added: ‘As we looked through these entries, supported by extensive references and a highly rigorous approach, from diagnosis and presentation of options to the shaping, cleaning and obturation of canals, at every stage using the correct technique, we had to keep reminding ourselves that these young dentists were effectively still in training.
‘They are rising stars in the field of endodontics and a credit to their teaching hospitals and tutors.’
The winner
Satnam won an X-Smart IQ Waveone Gold starter kit with dual cordless motor as well as an iPad Mini from Dentsply. His entry demonstrated a technically complex case where, normally, a specialist referral would have been warranted.
Commenting on his win at the awards ceremony, he told Endodontic Practice: ‘I feel ecstatic. I wasn’t expecting to win. I’ve seen a few familiar faces here tonight, so I knew the talent I was up against.’
David Bretton, an associate in general practice, took second place, presenting a routine endodontic case executed to a ‘very high standard’. He was the winner of a P5 Newtron XS ultrasonic irrigation unit with Endo Success retreatment kit from Acteon.
Jasneet Gulati took third place for his treatment of an 18-year-old who required MTA for apical closure. He now lives in Singapore, and won a Morita ZX apex locator from QED.
Bright young future
Enthused about his win, Satnam says: ‘Completing this case represents the summation of my academic and clinical skills to date. As a young practitioner it has enhanced my confidence, helped me consolidate existing skills whilst simultaneously acquiring new ones, contributed to the development of others and reinforced my desire to want to pursue a long term career within the field of endodontics.’
He adds that he hopes this award will encourage patients to feel more confident with both his clinical skills and techniques, and notes that despite a ‘competitive generation’ there is no lack of opportunities for young dentists to build their knowledge.
‘I hope that I will be on a restorative STR post or doing an MClinDent course in endodontics by this time next year,’ he says. ‘This award has been a terrific boost to my confidence already and I would encourage any young dentist to get involved.
‘It’s not about winning – it’s the process of learning and putting a case together that helps your understanding. It’s all good fun and a great opportunity – you also get to meet some amazing people in the process!’
