Dental residency program interview questions




















However, I will provide her guidelines for the care of the area of concern as well as a list of symptoms to watch for. In addition, I will ask her to schedule a follow-up appointment within a few days.

If the symptoms disappear, then there is no need for a follow-up unless the patient feels it is necessary. I will advise my patient that if the symptoms continue or worsen, then she must keep the follow-up appointment, and I will perform a clinical examination. We will re-evaluate the potential risks and benefits of an X-ray in order to develop a treatment plan.

I will provide her any written literature I may have on X-ray safety, ensuring she has access to the best scientific evidence and consensus, in case she would like to reconsider in the future. In summary, my patient was apprehensive about her exposure to dental X-rays as a method to diagnose and develop a treatment plan for the dental pain she was experiencing. In order to honour patient autonomy, we discussed the potential risks and benefits of the X-rays, leaving the decision to her informed consent.

As the pain she was experiencing was not debilitating, nor did I see any great cause for concern upon examination, I did not make any further recommendations with respect to the X-rays. Rather, I provided the patient with suggestions for follow-up. First, appropriate terminology is utilized throughout, demonstrating knowledge of key concepts in the field — informed consent, evidence-based practice, patient autonomy, and the like.

As well, note that there are some statements that indicate not just what is said, but how the conversation took place. Such details demonstrate that you know that this is likely a sensitive issue, and that you must be conscious of your own behaviour when working with patients.

Check out this video for even more discussion of some of the most challenging dental school interview questions:. This low-income individual does not have dental insurance and makes appointments only when significant treatment is needed.

The last time you saw them, they were unable to pay for their dental services. This scenario puts the dentist in an ethical dilemma and suggests a conflict of interest, as she wants to provide the best treatment for her patient, but also needs to manage the costs associated with running a practice and providing the treatment.

As the dentist in this scenario, my primary concern is for the well-being of my patient, but I must also be certain to provide equitable care to all my patients and make decisions that allow for the viability of my practice. I would greet my patient in a friendly, open, empathetic manner without judgment for not maintaining regular appointments, and without assuming the patient will be unable to pay for their treatment, despite our previous experience.

It has been awhile since I last saw the patient, and any number of things may have changed in that time. After consulting with the patient and doing an initial oral examination, it may be that I determine that a regular cleaning and perhaps X-rays for preventative measures are all that is required.

In that case, my office will continue with treatment if time allows, or have another appointment scheduled in the near future. If, however, the consultation and initial oral examination reveal significant decay, I will inform the patient that extensive work is required and offer a variety of treatment options. I will ask the patient if they have insurance coverage in order to offset the cost. If the patient informs me that none of the treatment plans are financially manageable for them, even with a payment plan, my office will contact social service agencies to determine if my patient qualifies for government funding at some level.

I can also suggest my patient contact a nearby dental school for treatment, as patients are often seen at low-or-no cost as part of dental student training. If none of these options offer a solution for my patient in a timely manner, I will provide the most suitable and cost-effective treatment to resolve the most immediate issue s without charge.

Throughout our entire interaction, I will be certain that the patient is treated with the same respect, care, and empathy by my entire staff as every other patient we treat. There are two levels of prevention necessary in this scenario. The patient must be educated that regular dental cleanings and topical fluoride, as well as daily brushing and flossing, are mandatory for maintaining oral health.

This will ultimately reduce, if not eliminate, the necessity of such drastic interventions. In addition, I will provide my patient with the names and addresses of free or reduced-cost dental clinics, and encourage them to make regular appointments. Finally, as part of my own social responsibility and to do justice to the code of ethics, I will volunteer my time and expertise at free clinics on a regular basis.

In addition, I will advocate for low-income earners and the precariously employed by lobbying all levels of government for better access to dental healthcare funding. The elderly face many obstacles to both preventative oral health care and treatment of dental conditions. These include dealing with ageism, financial obstacles, mobility obstacles, cognitive limitations, communication and issues of consent, and complications with treatment due to medications and medical conditions, to name only some.

In addition, the face of dental care for the aging population is changing. In the past, much of dental care for this segment of the population involved taking care of dentures; however, as life expectancy increases and as a result of a lifetime of good oral healthcare, many people are retaining most of their teeth until the end of life.

This asks dentists to be educated on the illnesses and conditions, including the effects of significant health episodes, elderly patients may face in order to understand the implications on oral health and dental treatment. Changes in insurance coverage affect the elderly. While many people relied on their dental benefits as employees, this coverage often ends in retirement, especially as pensions become less common.

Dental care may be seen as a discretionary expense, until the patient experiences pain and discomfort. As a dentist, there are a number of things I can do to support my patients as they transition from employment to retirement. The technical team can remind the patient of the importance of preventative care, as well as the link between oral and systemic concerns.

Finally, as the patient ages and if cognitive issues become apparent, my team will support the patient and their family by liaising with insurance providers on their behalf. An additional issue the elderly may face involves physical limitations and mobility. Common conditions such as arthritis may make the simple act of holding a toothbrush difficult and flossing impossible. As an individual ages, driving restrictions may come into play, making the autonomous act of taking oneself to the dentist—a task that involves co-ordination, planning, and expense—more difficult.

In addition, maneuvering in and out of a chair, sitting up, and lying down are movements that may require physical support and a helping hand, and could diminish the confidence and cause embarrassment for the aging. Again, my team and I have a responsibility to provide tools and strategies to ease any discomfort involved in daily oral hygiene, such as wide-handled toothbrushes.

My team will be certain to be patient, supportive, and unobtrusive in offering physical help as our patients move about the office space.

In addition, depending on the community where I practice, I can co-ordinate shuttle transportation for my patients who are unable to arrange their own transportation. Finally, I will connect with nursing homes and retirement facilities to attend to the needs of those who are not mobile or are without insurance as part of my code of ethics.

The team, everyone in the practice from the administrative staff, to technicians, hygienists and myself, must be aware of the vulnerability and fluctuating autonomy of the elderly. We must all be trained and aware not to treat the elderly as children, but to support them on an individual basis, reassessing needs and abilities of the whole person on each visit to offer the most empathetic, professional care that addresses the connection between oral health and physical well-being.

We Can Help! You are a dentist who has been in practice for a number of years but are starting to feel a sense of isolation. As oral health professionals, a dentist cares for their patients and runs a professional practice that is a healthy work environment for the team.

Research suggests that dentistry is a stressful profession, and evidence suggests that a significant proportion of dentists report anxiety, depression, physical pain, or headaches on a regular basis.

I may have noticed that my experience of being stressed has been magnifying, and that it may be manifesting as feelings of isolation. My concern is that my sense of isolation is a precursor to something more serious, namely burn-out or depression. It is likely I have numerous stressors including an existing dentistry school debt, start-up debt, practice management and patient care concerns. My vocation involves helping others, and so I may be embarrassed that I might need professional help myself.

However, in order to maintain my standard of professional care and to ensure my personal relationships remain positive and healthy, it is my responsibility to care for myself.

I will need to find resources to help me understand this isolation and to develop an action plan to inhibit more serious mental health concerns. First, I will reflect on both my personal and professional life to try to determine the causes of stress.

Scheduling interviews, especially during peak interview season, can be a logistical nightmare, and you may find available dates inconvenient for one reason or another. No matter the situation, do not lose your temper or come off as pushy. You want to be remembered for your politeness and tact.

Express your gratitude for the opportunity and excitement to learn more about the program. Conversely, schedule programs that you are less likely to go to at the end of the cycle. Once you confirm your interview date, book your travel and accommodations immediately to lock in the best available prices.

Arrive for your interview in the city the day before and remember that travel delays might interfere with your schedule; plan accordingly. Direct morning flights can help minimize the likelihood of delays, especially in cold-weather locations where ice or snow could interrupt your plans. Make sure that you plan enough time to arrive at the location, gather your thoughts, and relax before the interview. Rushing to the interview can make you appear harried and agitated during the question and answer portion.

Though committees may be able to overlook such missteps, avoid giving them reason to see you in a negative light. Dinners are great sources of information and an opportunity to meet and connect with current program residents.

The first step in preparing for your interview is to study your ERAS application inside and out. In addition, list your strengths, values, accomplishments, and abilities. After creating this list for yourself, identify five key aspects of yourself that you want the program to know, and make sure these aspects align with what makes you a stand-out candidate for the program in question.

Pay special attention to any keywords or key concepts, like diversity and research, that come up a lot so you can demonstrate fit with those aspects of their culture and stand out. Additionally, talk to your contacts, fellow students, or alumni of your med school who might have a connection to the program or supporting institution.

If provided with interviewer names in advance, look up their research and clinical interests and, if appropriate, ask questions about their work during your interview. Make sure to go through several mock interviews before your first official one. Good folks to request practice interviews with include:. Your medical school advisor, especially if their area of expertise is your specialty of interest.

A friend who has successfully navigated the residency match process. Ask your interviewer to provide feedback on answer content and delivery, including eye contact, speed, and conversational fluidity. When you get feedback, practice answers using your newfound approach instead of simply taking notes for the future. Another tool that candidates sometimes find helpful is recording themselves as they answer questions during a mock interview.

This need not be a complicated audiovisual ordeal with high production values; your phone camera will usually suffice. You can review the footage later to see what others see and consider if there are any gestures or tics you want to avoid, and any other body-language elements you may wish to incorporate. Keep in mind, however, not to practice too much. Some applicants who over-rehearse answers or repeat examples from essays can seem robotic.

Your official interviews can be stressful. You may not be fully rested and feel anxious, so aim to recreate stressful conditions for your mock interviews.

Sleep less beforehand, drink coffee, and do whatever else you need to give yourself slight jitters. That way, your interview day will feel more familiar. Here is a list of ways you can make your mock interview more stressful:. Interviewing with someone who has a harsh or cold demeanor.

These are just a few of the many ways you can stress yourself out to simulate interview day jitters. Answering residency interview questions essentially boils down to the following:. Answer in a way that is consistent with your application materials. Ensure your answers progress clearly—avoid non-sequiturs and tangents—and address the question directly. Take a firm position on an issue e. Demonstrate how you prioritize patient needs above all else.

Use appropriate speech volume and tone and make consistent eye contact. Display appropriate emotions and facial expressions e. Update your interviewers on achievements since submitting your ERAS application. Does your interviewer want to know about your clinical experiences? Is this a trick question? It is not a trick question, but there are better and worse ways to respond. A common misconception: Applicants think they should immediately start talking about their medical experiences, especially ones related to the specialty they intend to pursue.

How to approach the question: Before discussing medical experience, describe personal aspects of your background, such as your upbringing and interests, to humanize yourself and not seem like a typical med student. I grew up in a Japanese American family in Boulder. When I was young, I resented it a little chuckles. I ended up getting very interested in radiology, which can actually feel a lot like a darkroom at times…. A common misconception: Applicants wonder whether they should reiterate the answer they gave in their personal statement.

Response Strategy : First say how you got involved in the project for example, your mentor introduced you to it during one of your rotations. My role in this was T, while others did U, V, and W. Ultimately we found out that X. Can you tell me about volunteer work you did? Purpose : They want to know if you care about people and what your attitude is toward those less fortunate than you. Are you empathetic? They are asking you what you did, but what they really want to know is why you did it!

Again, make it personal. What about your background made you someone who cares about the project that you participated in. Fortunately for me, the librarian across the street from where I lived was always happy to help me with my homework when I needed help. I am really grateful for what she did for me, and so I decided to tutor children in need as a way to give back to the community.

Purpose : This is an extremely important question. They are trying to see if they can connect with you on a personal level. They are struggling to relate to you or, more simply, they want to know if you are a relatable person. Know and assume that you will get the job only if you are relatable!! Is it something social? Is it something analytical?

Is it something totally dorky? Simply put, it puts you at risk emotionally. What do you see happening for you beyond your residency? Purpose : They want to see that you have goals and visions, but they also want to see if your goals and visions are tempered by flexibility and open-mindedness.

Clinical practice? Geographic areas of specialization? No goals? Purpose : This is a social competence question. They also want to know how you might go about trying to reconcile your personal ethics and preferences with those of the institution. Again, there are numerous variations to this not-terribly-in-vogue question, so you need to be totally comfortable here.

These two answer types are immediate disqualifiers. Do you have any interesting case to discuss? Not always asked, but you need to be comfortable with this question because it is asked sometimes, especially in the more academics-minded programs.

Therefore, in most circumstances, a medically straightforward case can be sufficient as long as it is imbued with personal meaning for you.

Do not have Google or Facebook account, have not registered yet? Classic Sign Up. Residency Match U. What made you want to become a doctor? Why did you choose this specialty? Why did you choose to apply to this program? Can you tell me about volunteer work you did? What do you see happening for you beyond your residency? Do you have any interesting cases to discuss? Have you worked in US hospital? Tell me about experience.

Tell me about a time when you were disappointed in your performance. What do you feel you could add to our program? Tell me about your medical education. Are you interested in research activity? To what other programs have you applied?

Do you have publications? Are you planning on a subspecialty? What field? What is your strengths? How do I know you can show initiative and are willing to work? What books have you read not long time ago? What are your long term goals? What can You say about your weaknesses? Tell me about a conflict with your colleagues and how you handled it.



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