Dentist

The most common role in dentistry is that of a general dental practitioner (GDP). As a GDP, you'll usually work as a self-employed contractor providing routine and specialist dental care to the general public in high street practices. You may provide services under the NHS, privately, or a combination of both.

You'll treat a wide range of patients, from children to older adults, and work as part of a team that includes dental nurses, hygienists, therapists and technicians.

You can work as a general dentist or train to specialise in a particular area of dentistry. Specialties include:

• endodontics
• oral surgery
• orthodontics
• paediatric dentistry
• periodontics
• restorative dentistry.

Areas of work

Most general dental practitioners work as associate dentists, usually as self-employed contractors within practices owned by another dentist or organisation. Some go on to become practice owners, taking responsibility for staff, finances and day-to-day operations alongside clinical work.

You may also choose to work in settings such as:

• community dental services - with patients who have additional needs in community clinics, mobile units and residential care settings
• dental public health - conducting non-clinical work to assess and improve the dental health of populations
• hospital dentistry - treating complex cases, providing emergency care and supporting teaching in dental hospitals
• armed forces dentistry - providing dental care to UK armed forces personnel in the UK and overseas
• academic dentistry - combining clinical work with teaching and research in universities or dental hospitals.

Responsibilities

As a dentist, you'll need to:

• examine patients' teeth and gums during routine check-ups
• diagnose dental conditions, such as cavities, gum infections and oral infections, using dentistry tools and x-rays to help identify issues
• discuss treatment options and agree treatment plans with patients
• carry out clinical treatments such as restorative work (such as fillings, crowns, bridges, and dentures), treating gum disease and performing extractions
• perform preventative treatments such as cleaning, fluoride applications and sealants
• manage patient anxiety and ensure effective pain control
• refer patients to dental specialists when required
• maintain accurate patient dental records
• educate patients on oral healthcare
• ensure high standards of infection control, and health and safety
• keep up to date with continuing professional development (CPD).

If you're a practice owner, you'll also carry out business activities such as recruiting and managing staff, overseeing budgets and equipment, and promoting services to attract patients.

Salary

• Newly qualified dentists who want to work in the NHS must complete one year of foundation training. During this time, you'll earn a salary of £40,776.
• Most NHS dentists work as self-employed contractors in general practice, often combining NHS and private work. Earnings vary widely depending on experience, location, working hours and the balance of NHS and private patients. Typical incomes range from around £50,000 to £110,000, while wholly private dentists may earn significantly more.
• Salaried dentists employed by the NHS, mainly in community dental services, earn between £52,532 and £112,360.
• Dentists who choose to undertake dental core training earn between £52,656 and £65,048, while dental specialty trainees earn £65,048 to £73,992, with additional payments for night, weekend and on-call work.
• In NHS trust hospitals, consultants in dental specialties earn a basic salary of £109,725 to £145,478, depending on experience.

Income data from Health Careers. Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Dentists' working hours vary depending on the type of role and contract. In general dental practice, most dentists work as self-employed contractors and often have flexibility in arranging their hours.

Hospital dentistry roles are usually employed posts and may involve more irregular hours, particularly in training grades and emergency services.

What to expect

• Jobs are available throughout the UK, in both urban and rural areas.
• You'll usually wear protective clothing such as a tunic, mask, surgical gloves and safety glasses to reduce the risk of cross-infection.
• The work can be challenging, particularly when dealing with anxious patients who may be in pain, but can also be rewarding as you improve people's oral health.
• You'll spend prolonged periods carrying out close, detailed work and need to take care to avoid eye strain and neck or back fatigue.
• Travel during the working day is uncommon in general practice but may occasionally be required in hospital or community dental roles.

Qualifications

To work as a dentist in the UK, you must complete a dental degree accredited by the General Dental Council (GDC), the UK regulator for dental professionals.

Degrees typically take five years full time. Competition for places is fierce, and you'll need high grades at A-level or Highers, with chemistry and biology usually required or strongly preferred. Many courses also require you to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) as part of the application process.

Some dental schools offer an additional foundation year (year zero) for applicants without the required entry qualifications.

Accelerated four-year programmes are also available for applicants with a strong honours degree in a relevant subject, usually with substantial biology or chemistry content.

Entry requirements vary between providers, so check individual institutions before applying. Search the list of GDC-approved dentistry courses.

You'll also need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme in Scotland) and an occupational health assessment.

Once you've completed your degree, you must register with the GDC to practise as a dentist.

Skills

You will need to have:

• manual dexterity and technical dental skills, with the ability to maintain concentration for prolonged periods
• attention to detail and precision in clinical work
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with patients of all ages and backgrounds
• the ability to build trusting relationships with patients and work collaboratively with colleagues
• empathy and a reassuring manner, particularly when dealing with anxious or nervous patients
• strong decision-making and problem-solving skills to diagnose conditions and plan treatments
• good organisational and time management skills to work effectively within appointment schedules
• administrative skills, with management responsibilities for practice owners
• IT skills to use digital patient records and imaging systems.

Work experience

Dental schools expect applicants to show they understand what a career in dentistry involves and why they want to become a dentist. Relevant experience may include:

• observing or work shadowing a dentist
• working or volunteering in healthcare environments, particularly within general dental practice
• working with people, especially in a caring or customer-facing role, where you can develop your communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills.

If it isn't possible to gain direct clinical experience, some dental schools accept virtual work experience or online insight programmes, provided you can reflect on what you've learned. Check with individual course providers.

What matters most is the quality of your experience and your ability to reflect on how it's helped you understand the role of a dentist.

As a student member of the British Dental Association (BDA), you'll have access to the British Dental Journal (BDJ), a student magazine, newsletter and careers advice.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

You could work as a dentist for:

• NHS or private dental practices - as a self-employed associate dentist, practice owner or, less commonly, an employee
• NHS hospital trusts - in specialist, training and consultant roles
• community dental services - in community clinics, mobile dental units and residential care settings, for example
• the armed forces - delivering dental services in the UK and overseas for the Royal Air Force, Army and Royal Navy.
• universities and dental schools - combining clinical work with teaching and research.

Dentists are also employed by urgent dental access centres (UDACs) and specialist referral centres.

Look for job vacancies at:

• BDJ Jobs
• Dental Guide
• JobsMedical
• NHS Jobs (England and Wales) and NHSScotland Jobs

Specialist recruitment agencies such as DentalElite and Zest Dental Recruitment advertise vacancies.

Vacancies are also advertised on general recruitment websites, employers' own websites and professional networking platforms like LinkedIn.

Professional development

Once registered with the GDC, most graduates complete a year of dental foundation training (DFT) in general dental practice to further develop their skills in a supportive environment and build confidence for independent practice. This year is essential if you want to treat patients in NHS primary care.

Some dentists undertake further training to become specialty dentists, consultants or researchers. Options include:

• Dental core training (DCT) - lasts from one to three years and is based mainly in hospital settings. Many graduates choose to complete one year of DCT to develop additional skills and experience outside general dental practice.
• Dental specialty training (DST) - typically follows DCT and lasts three to five years. Some dentists complete three years and then work as specialists in hospital or specialist practice, while others continue for a further two years to progress to consultant roles. There are 13 recognised dental specialties, including orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial pathology, and oral microbiology.

To maintain GDC registration, you must complete annual renewal and at least 100 hours of CPD over a five-year cycle. Organisations such as the British Dental Association (BDA), Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) and College of General Dentistry offer a range of conferences, courses and career support.

Career prospects

In general dental practice, you'll usually work as an associate dentist, developing skills and clinical interests. Some dentists go on to own and run practices, gaining greater autonomy alongside business responsibilities.

In community dental services, dentists can progress to senior dental officer roles, often with specialist responsibilities.

Hospital dentists follow a structured training pathway that can lead to senior posts such as consultant. Key hospital dental specialties include oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral surgery, orthodontics, paediatric dentistry and restorative dentistry.

In universities and teaching hospitals, dentists with postgraduate qualifications may progress to senior lecturer or professor roles, combining clinical work with teaching and research. Research fellowships also provide opportunities to develop expertise and contribute to innovation in areas such as biomaterials or public health.