What motivates a student to move from the United States to Australia to pursue a career in dentistry? This is Next Gen, where we explore the diverse paths dental students take during their training.

In this episode, we’re sitting down with Caroline, a second-year dental student at the University of Sydney, to discuss the transition from international life to the Australian dental system. Following in her mother's footsteps at her alma mater, Caroline opens up about the unique challenges and "pinch me" moments of her early clinical years.

We explore the reality of shifting from simulation clinics with plastic teeth to treating real-life patients, and the unexpected nerves that come with that responsibility. Caroline shares candid insights on why "simple" skills like scaling turned out to be trickier than expected, the importance of a collaborative rather than competitive student culture, and her aspirations to take her skills to rural or public sectors after graduation.

From balancing the rigours of study with crocheting and her Cavoodle, Puddles, to dreaming of a trip to Antarctica, discover how this future dentist is keeping her cool while learning the ropes.

So grab your coffee (or an iced oat milk chai), settle in, and let’s brush up on the journey of an international dental student.

If you want to stay up to date with the latest developments in dentistry, check out our upcoming CPD courses at adacpd.au.