Dr Fiona Sotir
BDS (Glasgow), MFDS RCPSG, PGCert MedEd, MRes (Merit Sheffield)
School of Clinical Dentistry
NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow
Specialist registrar in Paediatric Dentistry
+44 114 271 7883
Full contact details
School of Clinical Dentistry
19 Claremont Crescent
Sheffield
S10 2TA
- Profile
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Ms Sotir graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2012, going on to complete her dental foundation training in Southwest Wales.
She undertook dental core training in Scotland in the fields of Paediatrics, Orthodontics, Primary care and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery while continuing her studies and achieving Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgeons and a PG Certificate in Medical Education. She commenced a post as an Academic Clinical Fellow in Paediatric Dentistry in Sheffield in 2017, completing her Masters in Clinical Research in 2020.
She continues her interest in both postgraduate and undergraduate teaching and has cultivated a keen interest in research, with a particular focus on childhood anxiety. At present, she is working towards her PhD through the No Need(le) to Worry study.
- Research interests
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No Need(le) to Worry
Dr Noble’s current research focuses on development of a self help resource to address needle fear in childhood and adolescence (supervisors Professor Z Marshman and Professor H Rodd at UoS, Dr David White at ScHARR and Dr Gemma Wheeler Sheffield Hallam University). She was awarded a grant from the Research Design Service in 2018 to undertake preliminary work with patients and the public, which was presented at the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry in 2019.
Needle fear affects around 50% of children and adolescents worldwide, and can have wide reaching impacts. Children with needle fear can find attending appointments with their doctor or dentist very difficult, and may avoid attending altogether, putting them at risk of pain, infection, and worsening disease. These children may also be unable to tolerate routine vaccination, leaving them unprotected again serious disease such as measles and HPV related cervical cancers.
The development of a self-help resource aims to help support these children, and allow them to address their fears and/or develop coping skills to enable them to accept needles.
- Publications
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Journal articles
- Restoration of the fractured permanent incisor in young patients. Dental Update, 47(11), 940-944.
- An exploration of paediatric dentistry trainees’ attitudes towards academia. Faculty Dental Journal, 11(3), 128-132.
- ‘I would rather be having my leg cut off than a little needle’: A supplementary qualitative analysis of dentally anxious children’s experiences of needle fear. Dentistry Journal, 8(2). View this article in WRRO
- Molar incisor hypomineralisation and dental anomalies : a random or real association?. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry. View this article in WRRO
- ‘Message to dentist’ : facilitating communication with dentally anxious children. Dentistry Journal, 7(3). View this article in WRRO
- Psychosocial impacts relating to dental injuries in childhood: The bigger picture. Dentistry Journal, 7(1). View this article in WRRO
- The effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the reduction of dental anxiety in children. Evidence-Based Dentistry, 19(4), 104-104.
- ‘Your teeth you are in control’. Dental Nursing, 14(6), 292-293. View this article in WRRO
- Restoration of the fractured permanent incisor in young patients. Dental Update, 47(11), 940-944.
- Teaching activities
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Dr Noble completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education (University of Dundee) in 2019. She continues to be involved in Paediatric Teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, and is part of a working group for development of a programme to complement the behavioural management teaching in the undergraduate curriculum.
- Professional activities and memberships
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- Academic Careers Evening co-coordinator (School of Clinical Dentistry 2020)
- Junior Doctor Digital Champion (Sheffield Teaching Hospitals 2020-present)
- BSPD South Yorkshire Council Representative (2018 – present)
- Paediatric Dental Trainees Group Treasurer (2019 – present)
- BSPD Conference Abstracts and Prizes Committee Trainee Representative (2019-present)
- BSPD Conference Local Organising Committee (2019 – present)
- Paediatric Department Journal Club co-coordinator (2018-present)
- Paediatric Department Student Audit lead (2019-present)
- CONNECT (Child Oral health NatioNal rEsearch CollboraTive) Trainee-led research group founding member and IT lead (2017 – present)
- CONNECT Local lead (2017-2019)
- CONNECT Social Media Lead (2017-2019)
- Member of learned societies: BSPD, EAPD, IAPD
- Reviewer for British Dental Journal, MDPI and BMC Oral Health