Which one of your personal attributes do you think will be the most valuable in dentistry?

There is no right or wrong personal attribute to pick here, what the interviewer wants you to do is pick one strong quality, provide evidence of how you show this, and then relate this to why it's valuable to dentistry.

Here are some examples of personal attributes and their relation to dentistry:

• Manual dexterity- dentists need to work well with their hands to work in the mouth
• Communication- dentists need to communicate effectively to explain diagnoses and treatment to patients in a way that they understand
• Leadership- dentists need to lead the appointment, organising what needs to be done and in what order
• Attention to detail- dentists need to be able to interpret x-rays to identify any signs of disease

Here is a sample answer:

'My strongest attribute is empathy, and I believe this is very valuable in dentistry.

In my work experience, I saw how the dentist was empathetic towards their anxious patient by calming them down. They did this by reassuring them consistently and telling the patient that another appointment can be scheduled for the scale and polish. From this I have learned that being empathetic can put the patient at ease and builds a good patient-dentist relationship.

I have used this experience in my volunteering work at a care home too. I listened to the residents and their concerns, and I realised this helped build a sense of trust and understanding between us.

I know that empathy is a crucial part of dentistry because it puts the patient's emotions into consideration and this can affect how we deliver patient care in a way that is always beneficial for the patient'