Dentist

Dentists prevent and treat problems affecting the mouth and teeth, deal with injuries and correct dental issues.

You will typically lead a team of dental nurses, hygienists, therapists, technicians, and treat a range of people, from children to the elderly.
You will use the skills and confidence gained through training to diagnose and treat dental problems, provide advice, and carry out complex surgical and dental procedures to relieve people's pain and provide them will the best possible dental care.

Role Characteristics

Lead a dental team to diagnose and treat dental problems
Perform treatments like fillings, extractions and use specialist equipment
Correct dental irregularities and treat dental and facial injuries
See people for routine checkups and educate them on oral healthcare
Refer to a dental hygienist or dental therapist
Work with other health and care professionals

Skills

Active listening
Advice giving
Empathy
Team work
Decision-making
Communication

Day in the life

Watch Alice talk about her work as a Dentist and how she qualified.

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

GCSEs

A-Levels

Undergraduate degree

Postgraduate degree

How to become

To become a Dentist you will need a degree in dentistry to practice as a Dentist and courses take at least five years to complete.

You will normally need 5 GCSEs including English, maths and sciences, or equivalent.
You will normally need high grade A-Levels, but some BTEC qualifications are accepted.
You will need to complete a 5 year degree in Dentistry, followed by 1 to 2 years of postgraduate dental training.

It is important to check your preferred course provider's entry requirements for guidance.

To practice as a Dentist, you must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC).

Where can this role lead

No matter what role you start in or where you are in your career path, there are always opportunities to develop and progress in health and care.

As a Dentist in general practice, you could go on to become a partner of the practice or set up your own practice. You could specialise in oral surgery, orthodontics, paediatric dentistry, or restorative dentistry. You could progress to a senior dental officer role, with special responsibilities in areas including epidemiology, or treating patients with special needs.