Aston Dental School Dentistry Interview — Format, Questions & Prep Tips

Why dentistry, and why Aston specifically?

Reference Aston's newer BDS curriculum, the small-cohort intensive learning model, the Birmingham clinical environment and the integrated science teaching. Distinguish dentistry from medicine clearly.

Aston is a relatively new dental school. What attracts you to a smaller, newer programme?

Reflect honestly. Smaller cohorts mean more contact with faculty, more clinical time per student, and an opportunity to shape a developing programme. Show you have weighed up the trade-offs.

Describe a hands-on skill you have developed and how you trained it.

This is a signature Aston-style question. Pick something concrete — sewing, model-making, painting, calligraphy, musical instruments, even baking or surgical knot-tying if you've had work experience. Reflect on the deliberate practice and how dexterity improved.

How would you explain a tooth extraction to a nervous patient?

Acknowledge anxiety directly. Use plain language. Walk through the steps. Offer control signals. Avoid words that escalate fear ("drill", "needle"). Discuss aftercare clearly.

A patient asks for cosmetic treatment that you don't feel is clinically necessary. They have capacity and can pay. What do you do?

Respect autonomy. Provide accurate information about risks and benefits. Document. Ensure no pressure or coercion. Reference GDC Standards on cosmetic treatment.

(Possible station) A team member at your work-experience placement is finding the day overwhelming. Speak to them.

Listen first. Don't minimise. Offer practical support (cover a task, take a short break). Know your limits — escalate to a supervisor if there are wellbeing concerns.

Aston uses team-based learning. Tell me about a time you worked in a team and your role within it.

STAR framework. Focus on contribution and collaboration. Reflect on what you learned about team dynamics. Show you can both lead and follow.

Is it ethical for dentists to advertise on social media?

Engage with GDC advertising standards. Discuss benefits (information, access) and risks (pressure-selling, body-image impact, misleading claims). Take a reasoned position.

Describe a meaningful piece of dental work experience and what it taught you.

Depth over breadth. Pick one moment to go deep on. Reflect on what you learned about dental practice, not just what you observed.

What concerns you most about a career in dentistry?

NHS workforce crisis, physical demands (posture-related musculoskeletal issues — a particular topic Aston values awareness of), business pressures, emotional weight of anxious patients. Show informed self-awareness.

(Possible station) Here is a short data set on dental caries prevalence by region. What does it show, and what are the implications?

Describe what you see before interpreting. Note correlations with deprivation. Discuss preventative interventions and the role of dentists in advocacy.

A patient cannot afford the treatment plan you recommend. What do you do?

Discuss alternatives — NHS treatment, phased plans, payment options, signposting. Don't make patients feel judged. Reference GDC duty to act in the patient's best interest.

How would you respond if a patient told you they didn't trust dentists?

Don't take it personally. Listen to the source of distrust. Build trust slowly through transparency, consent and small wins. Acknowledge the wider context (negative dental experiences, social media misinformation).

How will you maintain your dexterity throughout your career?

Concrete strategies — deliberate practice, simulation training, hands-on hobbies (model-making, music, art), and the role of CPD in maintaining skill. Show long-term thinking.

Why prevention over treatment in modern dentistry?

Most dental disease is preventable. Cost-effectiveness, oral-cancer screening, the shift from drill-and-fill to risk-assessed care. Reference Aston's emphasis on prevention in its curriculum.