In this blogpost, BDS4 student, Hayley Massie describes her participation in the Aberdeen Summer Research Scholarship scheme.
Visit this link to learn more about the Aberdeen Summer Research Scholarship Programme.My name is Hayley, and I am currently a 4th-year dental student (BDS4) at the University of Aberdeen.
I believe that, in dentistry, whether you're a student or an experienced dentist, it is crucial to continuously develop your knowledge and stay updated with the latest treatment modalities. Dentistry is an ever-evolving field, and one of the main reasons I signed up to the summer research project was to sharpen my research skills and to prepare me for my future career as a clinician.
I have a particular interest in paediatric dentistry. During my first degree in Inverness, I conducted a literature review on Silver Diamine Fluoride, which sparked my interest in research. This summer, I had the privilege of being supervised by Dr. Stewart, who has been extremely helpful throughout this project.
The aim of this project was to collect data on the management practices at Aberdeen Dental Hospital for children referred with Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH). The project involved extensive data collection, analysing referral records dating back three years up to July 2024. We went through every single referral for children under 16, and nearly 30% of these referrals were related to MIH. This highlighted the importance of our work, as many referrals involved this condition. We examined the demographics of these referrals, the diagnoses, and the treatments provided, and we investigated whether these adhered to NHS Grampian’s guidelines. While we had clear objectives, the data revealed additional insights that allowed us to propose potential service improvements.
A particularly valuable aspect of this project for me was learning how to conduct statistical analysis. Although I had encountered statistics before, I had never applied it in a hands-on manner. This project gave me the opportunity to analyse real data, enhancing my understanding of how statistical analysis ensures the rigor, reliability, and validity of dental research. This experience not only improved my technical skills but also deepened my appreciation for the role of research in evidence-based dentistry. In addition to this, I had to think critically to interpret the data to make informed recommendations - another skill I believe will help me in my clinical practice.
I really enjoyed this experience, and I would encourage other students to carry out a summer research project! I’m excited to carry forward these insights as I progress in my studies and future career.