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Dentist

Dentists are the frontline of good oral health. They work with communities to prevent and treat dental/oral disease, correct dental irregularities and treat dental/facial injuries.

Working life

You'll lead the dental team using the the skills and confidence gained through world-class training to diagnose and treat dental problems. You'll provide advice to patients and use high levels of manual dexterity to carry out complex surgical and dental procedures.

Your training will lead to an excellent knowledge of human anatomy and oral disease while giving you the best clinical skills to help your patients.

Your work is increasingly about, protecting teeth and preventing gums from decay and disease. You're likely to work in your local community but you'll also have the chance to work in a variety of areas:

  • general dental care
  • community dental care
  • dental public health
  • hospital dental care​
  • armed forces dentists

General dental care

Most dentists work as general dental practitioners (GDPs), usually in a high street practice, providing dental care to the general public. You can largely choose where you work but you may need to be flexible with your working hours.

You may practise either under the NHS or privately, or both. You could also work part time in hospitals and some go into clinical teaching. 

Community dental care

Dental care is provided in community settings for patients who have difficulty getting treatment in their high street dental practice.

Dentists have excellent knowledge of human anatomy and oral diseases.

You mighe be looking after young children who need special help, as well as elderly and people who are housebound or with severe physical disabilities or mental illness. This can be demanding and rewarding work. You might be able to balance this work managerial and research duties. You can also be involved in working with schools doing screening and in studies of oral health.

You'll work in a variety of locations such as a patient's own home, nursing homes, community clinics and mobile clinics. You'll also work with a wider clinical team including school nurses [1], health visitors [2] and district nurses [3].

Dental public health

Dental public health is a specialty which involves assessing dental health needs and ensuring dental services meet those needs. Your work will look to improve the dental health of communities rather than individuals. 

 Hospital dental care

Being a dentist in a hospital usually means working in the following areas:

  • offering consultant advice and treatment for cases referred to hospitals or for patients admitted to hospital as a result of trauma or disease
  • dental care and treatment for patients in hospital for a long time
  • dental care for patients in hospital for a shorter period where pain relief of treatment is needed as part of their general care
  • treatment of out-patients

Working in a specialist dental hospital covers:

  • oral and maxillofacial surgery
  • oral surgery
  • orthodontics
  • paediatric dentistry
  • restorative dentistry

Visit our hospital dental services page [4] to find out more.

You'll likely to see fewer patients than general dental practitioners, but treatment is usually more complex. You'll generally work as part of a team and have access to specialised knowledge and facilities.

Armed forces dentists

Another option for graduates in dentistry is to join the armed forces as a dental officer. You have the option of joining the Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force.

You will receive full officer training and be required to commit for a minimum period of around six years. However, the salary (and benefits) can be substantial and sometimes grants are available to help pay for university costs if you are accepted before graduation.

You'll have access to the latest equipment and appointment times are usually longer than in a typical NHS practice. You'll need to be flexible with location and can expect to move several times, both in the UK and abroad. Perhaps the most important factor to take into account is that as a dental office in the armed forces, you are always a military officer first and a dental officer second.

Entry requirements

Becoming a dentist involves at least five years’ study at dental school, followed by one or two years of supervised practice. Most entrants will require three As at A-level, although one year pre-dental courses are offered by some dental schools. 

Find out more about training to be a dentist. [5]

Pay and benefits

Most NHS dentists working in dental practices are self-employed contractors. The profit of dental practices varies according to the services they provide for their patients and the way they choose to provide these services. Find out more about the pay for dentists. [6]

  • Find your course to become a dentist
    Displaying 1 - 5 of 22 matches

    BDS Dental Surgery

    Cardiff University

    View course Opens in a new window
    [7]

    Region
    Wales

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    6 years

    Contact details
    dentalugadmissions@cardiff.ac.uk [8] 029 2074 2468

    Course webpage
    https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2021/dental-surgery-bds [7]

    Admissions address

    Heath Park
    Cardiff
    CF14 4XY

    Course webpage
    https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2021/dental-surgery-bds [7]

    This 6 year BDS programme includes a preliminary foundation year which gives students who haven’t studied the science subjects required for the five year course the opportunity to progress to the full BDS course.

    MChD/BChS Dental Surgery, BSc Oral Science

    Leeds, University of

    View course Opens in a new window
    [9]

    Region
    Yorkshire and The Humber

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    5 years

    Contact details
    denadmissions@leeds.ac.uk [10] 0113 343 9922

    Course webpage
    https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/g033/dental-surgery-mchd-bchd-oral-science-bsc-mchd-... [9]

    Admissions address

    Leeds
    LS2 9JT

    Course webpage
    https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/g033/dental-surgery-mchd-bchd-oral-science-bsc-mchd-... [9]

    Bachelor of Dental Surgery (graduate entry)

    UCLan, University of Central Lancashire

    View course Opens in a new window
    [11]

    Region
    North West

    Type of course
    Postgraduate/accelerated programme

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    5 years

    Contact details
    BDSEnquiries@uclan.ac.uk [12] 01772 892400

    Course webpage
    http://www.uclan.ac.uk/courses/bds_dentistry_graduate_entry.php [11]

    Admissions address

    Preston
    Lancashire
    PR1 2HE

    Course webpage
    http://www.uclan.ac.uk/courses/bds_dentistry_graduate_entry.php [11]

    Accelerated courses are for graduates with a relevant degree. See our FAQ for more information [13]. Applicants who meet the required entry criteria and who are successful at interview will be eligible for direct entry to Year 2. Please contact the university for further information. 

    Bachelor of Dental Surgery

    Dundee, University of

    View course Opens in a new window
    [14]

    Region
    Scotland

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    5 years

    Contact details
    contactus@dundee.ac.uk [15] 01382 38 38 38

    Course webpage
    http://www.dundee.ac.uk/study/ug/dentistry/ [14]

    Admissions address

    Dundee Dental School
    Park Place
    Dundee
    DD1 4HN

    Course webpage
    http://www.dundee.ac.uk/study/ug/dentistry/ [14]

    Bachelor of Dental Surgery

    Newcastle University

    View course Opens in a new window
    [16]

    Region
    North East

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    5 years

    Contact details
    admissions@ncl.ac.uk [17] 0191 208 3333

    Course webpage
    http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/a206/#courseoverview [16]

    Admissions address

    Framlington Place
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU

    Course webpage
    http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/a206/#courseoverview [16]

    • Load more [18]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Dental nurse [19]
  • Dental technician/dental technologist [20]
  • Dental therapist [21]
  • Dental hygienist [22]

Source URL: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/roles-dental-team/dentist

Links
[1] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/school-nurse
[2] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/health-visitor
[3] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/nursing/district-nurse
[4] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/dentist/hospital-dental-services
[5] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/roles-dental-team/dentist/entry-requirements-and-training-dentistry
[6] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/roles-dental-team/dentist/pay-dentists
[7] https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2021/dental-surgery-bds
[8] mailto: dentalugadmissions@cardiff.ac.uk
[9] https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/g033/dental-surgery-mchd-bchd-oral-science-bsc-mchd-bchd-bsc
[10] mailto: denadmissions@leeds.ac.uk
[11] http://www.uclan.ac.uk/courses/bds_dentistry_graduate_entry.php
[12] mailto: BDSEnquiries@uclan.ac.uk
[13] http://rrhealthcareers.aws.rroom.net/i-am/looking-course/faqs-about-our-course-finder
[14] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/study/ug/dentistry/
[15] mailto: contactus@dundee.ac.uk
[16] http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/a206/#courseoverview
[17] mailto: admissions@ncl.ac.uk
[18] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/print/71?page=1
[19] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/roles-dental-team/dental-nurse
[20] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/roles-dental-team/dental-techniciandental-technologist
[21] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/roles-dental-team/dental-therapist
[22] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/roles-dental-team/dental-hygienist