Dentist
Also called Dental surgeon, dental practitioner.
Dentists diagnose and treat teeth and gum problems and help prevent dental disease. They also promote good oral hygiene.
- Potential salary
- £55,000 starter to £117,000 experienced per year
- Typical hours
- 37 to 40. Working pattern: as a contractor / self-employed managing your own hours.
- Career area
- Health and care
- Where they might work
- You could work at a dental practice, at a health centre or in an NHS or private hospital. You may need to wear protective clothing.
- A typical task
- see patients for routine checkups and cleaning
- Subjects that may help
- 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry
- Typical route
- Your first step is to complete a 5-year degree course at one of several dental schools located around the country. The schools are approved by the General Dental Council.
- Interest area used here
- Health and laboratory science, Making, fixing and working outdoors
What you might do
- see patients for routine checkups and cleaning
- examine teeth and gums to check for problems
- use X-rays and scans to build a picture of a patient's teeth, gums and jaw
- plan a course of treatment with the patient
- carry out procedures like fillings, crowns and extractions
- take impressions to fit dentures, implants and bridges
More tasks (3)
- apply cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening and veneers
- work closely with a dental team of nurses, hygienists and therapists
- provide advice to patients on good dental care
Could this suit me?
Consider which of these skills and ways of working appeal to you.
- knowledge of medicine and dentistry
- knowledge of biology
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
- the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
More skills
- customer service skills
- complex problem-solving skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
Routes into this career
University route
- Your first step is to complete a 5-year degree course at one of several dental schools located around the country. The schools are approved by the General Dental Council.
- This is followed by 2 years of supervised postgraduate dental training in different workplace settings.
- You might be able to do a 4-year degree course if you already have a degree in a related subject, for example:
- biomedical science
- human biology
- biochemistry
- When you apply for a course in dentistry, you may be asked to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) .
- It tests for skills you'll need on the course, such as:
- critical thinking
- problem solving
- data analysis
- decision making
- You'll usually need:
- 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
- University Clinical Aptitude Test
University courses that could lead to this career
These are course families, not published offers. A link does not mean the degree is sufficient on its own.
- Dentistry
Direct qualifying route. An approved dental degree is the university route into registration as a dentist.
Career progression
- As a dentist in the NHS or private practice, you could go on to become a partner or set up your own clinic.
- In hospital dental services, you could follow the same career structure and training pathway as a hospital doctor. For example, you could specialise in implants, child dentistry or orthodontics. You could also become a dental consultant and manage a dental unit or department.
- Other options include going into clinical teaching, or serving in the armed forces:
- British Army
- Royal Air Force
- Royal Navy
Registration and requirements
you'll need to register with the General Dental Council
pass enhanced background checks
Subjects that may help
Subject guidance
- 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry