Rotherham Hospital dental team give Spike his smile and career inspiration

Swinton Academy student Michael Underwood, known as Spike, who lives in Mexborough, has been accepted on to the University of Sheffield’s Discover Dental Professions outreach programme.

Consultant Joanne Birdsall met Spike, now aged 17, when he was nine for treatment to help his front teeth grow through.

Michael’s mother, Wendy Underwood, got in touch with Joanne to tell her about his decision to go into dentistry and said it was due to the amazing treatment and service Michael received as a patient in Rotherham.

She wrote: “Just want to thank you for everything you did for Spike. You’ve helped him in his career choice too. He wants to go down the dentistry route.”

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On their social media account, Swinton Academy wrote: “We are so very proud of our Y12 student Michael Underwood who has been accepted on to the University of Sheffield’s Discover Dental Professions outreach programme.”

Joanne said: “I first met Spike in 2013 when he was nine years old, he was a lovely young man who hadn’t grown his front teeth.

“He was probably one of my trickiest patients as his front teeth were very reluctant to erupt. He did amazingly as he started off very wary and nervous about the treatment.

“We watched him grow into a very intelligent and sensible young man as we aligned his recalcitrant front teeth and then completed alignment of all of the rest of his teeth in 2018.

“I am really proud to have known Spike and am very flattered that we influenced his career choice as well.

“He has an amazing smile that he very much deserves after persevering with his treatment.”​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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