Dentist

Dentists diagnose, treat and prevent tooth decay and gum disease. They give regular check-ups, drill, prepare and fill cavities, fit dentures and other devices, scale and polish teeth, remove decayed teeth and advise on oral hygiene. They also correct irregularities such as crooked teeth, especially in children.

Work activities

A large part of the dentist’s work is to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. They see patients for regular check-ups to make sure there are no problems. Dentists also educate their patients about oral hygiene, for example, how to brush teeth properly and use dental floss, and the importance of avoiding too much sugar in the diet. When a patient has a problem, the dentist first has to make a diagnosis. They will study notes on the patient’s dental history and examine their teeth and mouth, sometimes using X-rays. They ask the patient questions to find out what the symptoms are, for example, when and where they feel pain.

Typical routine treatment includes:

Scaling and polishing teeth.
Drilling, preparing and filling cavities.
Taking out decayed or septic teeth.

Dentists treat irregular teeth, especially in children. They do this by fitting devices such as braces. They replace whole or parts of teeth by fitting crowns, bridges and dentures. Dentists are very much part of a team. Dental nurses help them during treatment, for example, by passing instruments, taking notes and mixing materials for fillings. Dentists might also instruct or oversee the work of dental hygienists and dental therapists.

Dentists work with devices (such as dentures and bridges) that have been made for them by a dental technician. Most dentists work as general dental practitioners (GDPs). Most GDPs see a mixture of private and NHS patients. There are also dentists who work in hospitals and the Salaried Primary Care Dental Service. Dentists in the Salaried Primary Care Dental Service specialise in treating patients such as young children, people with disabilities, expectant mothers and patients who have a phobia of going to a dental practice. They might visit patients in their own homes, or in places like schools, day centres and residential care homes. Hospital dentists tend to do more complicated work because their patients are usually referred to them by GDPs.

Hospital dentists might specialise in a number of areas. Dentists specialising in orthodontics treat the more complex cases of crooked or missing teeth, fitting appliances to correct these and advising dentists in general practice. Dentists specialising in oral and maxillo-facial surgery treat injuries to the face or serious diseases of the teeth and gums. There are also dentists in areas like the armed forces and university teaching and research.

Personal qualities and skills

To be a dentist, you’ll need:

Communication skills: You must be able to ask questions and explain things clearly.
A kind, compassionate nature to put nervous patients at their ease.
To be good with your hands and able to use a variety of tools and equipment.
Patience and attention to detail.
Stamina and physical fitness – the work can be tiring.
An interest and ability in science.
Dentists in general practice need business management and team leadership skills.

Pay and opportunities

Most dentists in general practice are self-employed. They usually enter as an associate in an established dental practice, eventually buying into an existing practice or setting up their own one. Salaries depend on the type of practice and how successful it is. Salaried NHS dentists earn between £47,653 and £101,923 a year. Privately employed dentists may earn more. NHS consultants in dental specialties can also earn much more.

Most dentists in general practice, and those who work in the community, work 9:00am - 5:30pm, Monday to Friday. They might also work on Saturdays and provide 24-hour emergency cover. In hospitals, working hours vary depending on the dentist’s specialty – they might include evening and weekend work.

Dentists work in general practice, the NHS (in hospitals and the community) and the armed forces. Opportunities for dentists occur in towns, cities and rural areas throughout the UK.

Most dentists are self-employed in general practice, providing care under the NHS or privately. Most dentists offer both NHS and private services.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on the NHS Jobs website, in professional journals, and on specialist and general job boards.

Entry routes and training

To become a dentist, you usually need to complete a five-year degree course in dentistry. Degree courses cover areas such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pathology and dental materials. These are combined with the development of clinical skills in all dental disciplines. After graduating, you must undertake one or two years of supervised practice.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

To enter a degree course in dentistry, the usual minimum requirement is:

Three A-levels. Chemistry and biology are usually essential.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in your A-level subjects.
A further 2/3 GCSEs (9-4), including English and maths.

Some universities ask for science subjects not offered at A level. Equivalent qualifications, such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, can be acceptable for entry. Please check prospectuses carefully. Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 Nationals might also be acceptable for entry. However, some universities will accept these only alongside the specified academic A-levels. Again, please check prospectuses carefully. A few universities offer a pre-dental year for students who don’t have the required science A-levels. This makes the degree course six years in length, rather than five.

For most dentistry courses, you will need to take the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT), as well as applying through UCAS. Please see the UKCAT website for more information. You’ll need to sit a GAMSAT UK test if you’re applying for certain four-year graduate-entry dentistry courses. For more information, please see the GAMSAT website.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

If you don’t have the qualifications that are usually needed to enter a dentistry degree, you might be able to start one after completing an Access course, such as Access to Science. You don’t usually need any qualifications to enter, although you should check this with the course provider.

Dental students may apply for student loans to cover maintenance and tuition fees; however, the final years of their study may be covered by the NHS Bursary Scheme.

Related careers

Dental hygienist
Dental nurse
Dental technician
Dental therapist
Doctor
General practitioner
Surgeon