This workshop was an opportunity for 3rd Year Dental students to investigate how different roles impact on a patients experience and to consider how their communication and interpersonal skills can help people to improve their dental wellbeing.

A main theme of the workshop was the importance of teamwork and collaboration. This was explored very effectively via a fun and enjoyable activity which challenged students to work in small groups to create a free-standing structure using dried spaghetti, a marshmallow, tape, and string. An 18 minute time constraint added an additional element of challenge and excitement, especially in the last few moments.

The students then had the opportunity to reflect on their performance and the tower which they created. They also rated their own work and that of other groups; they quickly recognised that the most successful groups communicated well with each other, allocated tasks and roles and generally got stuck in.

We also recorded a short ‘talking head’ style video with an individual who has been diagnosed with Sjogrens Syndrome. This was an opportunity for students to recognise the real impact medical conditions have on daily activities, encouraging them to think about the person and beyond the text book.