Tips for writing SAQ. My personal experience
-Soledad Bellamy
I sat the exam last March (2006) and I passed, I think thanks to a good advise that I got on the same day of the SAQ. I was told that no matter what are they asking, in every answer you must start taking a full history of your patient, medical, dental, family, etc. We may think that that's too obvoius to writte it down three times ( in the 3 questions), but it's not. Last March themandatory Question was management of a patient taking Warfarin. So I wrotte about taking full history, for how long has beeb taking the warfarin, anfd for what condition, etc etc,,. Then I described what warfarin was , How is administered and for what conditions. And management is ask for the INR ( explain what is it, safe at 2.5 for extractions, etc). Consulatation with the patient haematologist or specialist, and finally, in case of invasive procedires, suture carefully, control bleeding etc.
Unfortunatle, time management is extre,ely important. And I took nearly 35 min just with that question, so I had to rush for the next two. They were: Management of a 2 1/2 years old coming to the dentist for the first time, discuss what you say to the carer/parent. And the third that I chose was: A patien is missing a lateral incisor, discuss treatment alternatives ( or something like that).
So, after taking full history of these patients again, the one with the 2 1/2 y.o is important the sicologial management, speak in simple language, have the first session as a just "orientation visit" to get used to the dental area, etc, etc. And discuss with the parents diet, hygiene, fluorides.
By the time I got to the lat incisor question, I had 7 min left. So it was a bit crazy, so basically ( after full history) i said that treatmnent optiond depend on the following factors ( they gave no information about the patient at all): dental history, hygiene level, caries activity, other teeth messing, general health, and economical issues. Possibilities : bridge, for most of the patients, if no other teeth messing, and Central or canine ( abutment teeth) already present with fillings, Implants, if patient has no diabetes, no smoker, good bone, and can pay. Removable denture if patient has no time or no money. I really couln't do much better than that in 7 min. But they must have liked it, because I passed!
What I think impressed them . it was the amount of writting that I did for the warfarin ( full front page and hALF OF THE BACK), full front page of the pediatric patient, so they must have understood that I run out of time for the third one, but I still put some important points.
So, my advise: get a pencil sharpener ( the examiners hace plenty available), and writte without stopping!!! don't waist too much time selecting which ones are the questions you'll answer ( the aother two appart from the mandatory one), just do a quick read and select what your heart tells you is more confortable field to you... Ah! and dont forget to talk about the FULL MEDICAL AND DENTAL HISTORY,( DIDN'TI MENTIONED ITBEFORE...?
Laura, I think I'm the person who Ahmed talked to, he called me twice, and I offer to writte my SAQ to him, but he didn't called me again, and I don't think I have his e mail. Anyway, I really hope this will help you guys, and good luck to everyone, stay possitive and calm, have a good night sleep the night before the exam, talk to each other, and try to remember the questions for the colleagues to come next.
All my best,
Sole.