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Dentist Job Profile / Description
Dentists are healthcare professionals that provide preventive and restorative treatments for problems that affect the mouth and teeth.
Most dentists work as self-employed practitioners in general medicine, providing dental care to the public national health service (SSN) and/or privately. Others work in salaried positions within a variety of specializations in dentistry, hospital dentistry community, armed forces, business practices, industry, or university teaching and research.
A general dental practitioner (GDP) normally carries a team made up of professionals of dental care (DCP) and deals with a wide range of people, from children to the elderly.
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What do dentists actually do?
Dentists will generally get involved in the following activities:
- Educating patients on oral health care;
- Examining teeth and diagnosing dental conditions of patients;
- Conducting x-rays;
- Evaluating treatment options;
- Arranging treatment plans;
- Maintaining patients' dental impressions;
- Recruitment, training and personnel management;
- Budget management and stockpiling of equipment;
- Keeping up to date on new developments through structured continuing professional development (CPD).
What are the entry requirements?
To become a dentist, you will need a degree in dentistry (BDS or BChD) and to get onto such a course usually required high grades at A level in mathematics, chemistry, biology or physics. It is not possible to become a dentist with just an HND.
If you have a 2:1 in a science related degree you could get into dental school via this route. Such a course would last 5 years most of the time. Without a science background, you may find some schools will accept you onto a course as long as you have good A levels which include chemistry.
Work experience is not essential but if you have a few weeks work experience it may be helpful.
What skills and attributes are required?
As a dentist, you may need to highlight some of the following skills:
- Self-discipline;
- Ability to concentrate for long periods;
- Academic abilities;
- Interested in welfare of others;
- Good communication skills with people;
- Management and administration skills;
- Able to build relationships;
- IT skills;
- Good eyesight.
What would I earn as a dentist?
Starting salaries for graduates working as vocational dental practitioners (VDPs) is around £30,000.
Dentists who end up working privately can earn anything from £140,000.
Those who work for the Community Dental Service (CDS) earn from around £40,000-£80,000.
In the NHS, salaries change but can be around £74,000-£100,000 for a consultant.
If you were to mix private work with NHS, you could earn anything from £50,000- £110,000.
What would my hours be?
Your hours would depend who you are working for. If you are working privately, you may work normal practice hours but there may be evening and weekend work to accommodate patients. In the NHS, you would be expected to work normal practice hours. For those self-employed, you would choose what hours you want to work.
Is there career progression?
Dentists working in a hospital will follow a structured training programme and gain recognised qualifications to then move into more senior roles.
A lot of dentists become self-employed general dental practitioners (GDPs) and can end up owning and running their own practice. As a graduate you would start as a vocational dental practitioner (VDP) in a one year post.
If you are registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) you can maintain your registration
by doing 250 hours of work over 5 years and this will continue your CPD (continuing professional development).
Where can I find dentist roles?
That’s simple; just click on this link to find the latest dentist roles in your location.
Search for dentist roles here.
Get dentist jobs sent to your inbox right here.
Browse through other health-related jobs here.
Find out information about other health-related jobs here.
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