Table 5.

Supporting quotations for category 1

Expertise and confidence

I think with anything, it [DHDx) gets better with time. The more you do it, the better you become with it and the more varied the mouths are that you've been exposed to, you learn something new all the time. So I think I value it more because my-the education in practice-has always been more valuable than the education at school. (Michele)

[DHDx has] definitely gotten better over time. I wouldn't say that in the first year, second year, I was that confident. But I feel very confident about it now. Without having a dentist present I could still make that diagnosis. (Mia)

Definitely, I feel like I'm more competent now than seventeen years ago and more confident in making the diagnosis and not second-guessing myself. (Mary)

I am much more confident in my diagnoses now. I know what I am saying is truthful and I can back it with information and my own experience. (Hannah)