Temi Esho shares her experience of winning the Uchenna Okoye Prize and details the analysis of the future of dentistry which won her the award.
My name is Temiloluwa Esho, but I go by Temi. I’m a now-fifth-year dental student who was initially set to study at Peninsula Dental School in Plymouth in 2020 but was redirected to Plovdiv, Bulgaria as a consequence of COVID-19’s impact on education and national exams.
In February 2024, I came across a competition for fourth- and fifth-year dental students being held by the Women Dentists Network (WDN). They introduced an award in honour of the late Dr Uchenna Okoye, inviting students to submit an entry in the form of an essay of up to 3,000 words on the future of dentistry.
‘I aimed to envision and illustrate what the future of dentistry looked like from the perspective of a Black British 22-year-old student, born and raised in the UK, but studying dentistry abroad.’
Motivated by the opportunity to connect with influential dentists and to express my beliefs in writing, I spent over three weeks brainstorming and carefully crafting my essay. I aimed to envision and illustrate what the future of dentistry looked like from the perspective of a Black British 22-year-old student, born and raised in the UK, but studying dentistry abroad.
I was elated to receive an email stating I was selected as the WDN’s winner and extremely honoured to have won the opportunity to attend their first inaugural conference sponsored by Henry Schein Dental, with all expenses paid.
The Uchenna Okoye Prize was presented to me by Dr Claire Nightingale and Dr Linda Greenwall on behalf of the WDN and Victoria Goodall from Henry Schein. I was truly humbled to have been acknowledged by such influential women dentists who have laid the path for aspiring women dentists, such as myself, to follow in their footsteps.
NHS dentistry is dying, only the UK government can resuscitate it
My piece essentially focuses on the challenges and revolutions that could reshape the future of dentistry as we know it. One of the key points addresses the cultural and social influences at play, as well as the impact social media has and will continue to have on dental practice and patient preferences.
The current trends in dentistry, such as the ongoing decline in the number of practising dentists, threaten the lifeline of NHS dentistry. My aim was to highlight the systematic consequences of budget cuts in NHS dentistry and emphasise the dire need for help from the UK government.
Increasing numbers of dentists are opting not to renew their NHS contracts and practice owners are avoiding the establishment of NHS-affiliated practices. The stress on remaining NHS dentists and practices will lead to overworked, fatigued employees, decreased quality of care, and reduced overall performance. In the long run this will lead to a progression of untreated issues and worsening of oral health conditions.
Systemic health
As most dentists are well aware, poor oral health is closely linked to poor systemic health in many ways. If the worsening conditions of oral health amongst the British population are not addressed, the general NHS should expect to see an increase in patients with systemic issues such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems.
Paediatric dentistry is also at risk of suffering neglect, as parents without dental appointments may underestimate the importance of good oral hygiene and regular checkups until it is too late. Children learn from their parents and environment. The negative stigma around visiting the dentist is likely to worsen in the absence of regular appointments and without the encouragement and support of dental professionals.
Proactivity in childhood
Social media has definitely helped mitigate this culture of negativity with influencers like the Singing Dentist de-stigmatising the ‘scary’ image of dentists. However a lack of proactivity in families with young children will render these efforts ineffective.
‘Urgent action is crucial to prevent escalating oral health issues and ensure comprehensive care for future generations.’
Children may only seek dental care in their teenage years when self-consciousness and bullying increase. They might seek quick – and sometimes unconventional – methods to achieve a smile that meets their standards and that of their peers. By this point, the state of their oral care may have reached a critical level, posing additional challenges for dentists who will need to schedule frequent appointments and educate young adults on proper oral health routines.
Anyone who was once a child knows that habits formed in the teenage years tend to be more difficult to maintain compared to those established in early childhood.
In conclusion, the NHS faces impending strain with declining dentist numbers and potential service closures, impacting patient care and systemic health. Urgent action is crucial to prevent escalating oral health issues and ensure comprehensive care for future generations.
Keep an eye out for the full piece
Stay tuned for the full essay, ‘Is the future of dentistry as bright as we hope? A personal exploration into dentistry’s national and global prospects’, soon to be published in an upcoming issue of the British Dental Journal.
The British Dental Journal (BDJ) is the UK’s leading dental journal. They expressed significant interest in the essay after it won the Uchenna Okoye Prize and encouraged me to submit it for publication in their journal. This piece delves deeper into the critical issues facing NHS dentistry and more positive advancements in other areas of dentistry. For example, advancements in operative dentistry, the integration of artificial intelligence in day-to day practice and the implementation of teledentistry for housebound or geographically distant patients.
You can also find out more about my journey as a dental student abroad via my website or through Instagram.
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