Dentist

Dentists promote good oral hygiene, diagnose and treat teeth and mouth problems and help prevent dental disease

Also known as: Dental surgeon, dental practitioner

• Starter salary£55,000 a year
• Experienced£117,000 a year
• Typical hours37 to 40 a week

What you'll do

You will:

• lead a dental team to diagnose and treat dental problems
• see patients for routine check ups
• perform treatments like fillings, extractions and fitting dentures and bridges
• whiten teeth
• take X-rays and give local anaesthetics
• refer patients to a dental hygienist or dental therapist

Working environment

You could work at a dental practice, at a health centre or in an NHS or private hospital.

You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• knowledge of medicine and dentistry
• customer service skills
• physical skills like movement, coordination and dexterity
• thinking and reasoning skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to work well with your hands
• the ability to read English
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

How to become a dentist

You can get into this job through a university course.

University

You'll need to complete a 5-year degree in dentistry approved by the General Dental Council , followed by 1 to 2 years of postgraduate dental training.

You might be able to do a 4-year degree course if you already have a degree in a relevant subject, for example biomedical sciences.

When you apply for a course in dentistry, you may be asked to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) .

It tests the skills you'll need on the course, like critical thinking, problem solving, data analysis, communication and scientific knowledge.

You might be able to apply for a 4-year dental degree course if you've already got at least an upper second class degree (2:1) in biology, chemistry or a biomedical subject.

There's a lot of competition for places at dental schools.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

Career path and progression

As a dentist in general practice you could go on to become a partner in the practice or set up your own practice.

In hospital dental services, you can follow the same career structure and training pathway as a hospital doctor. For example, you could also specialise in implant or paediatric dentistry.

You could serve as a dentist in the armed forces. You can find more information on dentistry in the military from the:

• British Army
• Royal Air Force
• Royal Navy

As a consultant, you'll often find work opportunities in the private sector.

With experience, you could lead a team, or manage a unit or department.

You could also progress to teaching and training student dentists and other healthcare professionals.

Registration

• you'll need to register with the General Dental Council

Guides for this industry

• Health & Social Care: pay, interviews and getting started →

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