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Dentist

general dental practitioner (GDP) orthodontist
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Healthcare
Care

Career outlook for dentist

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£32,796

Experienced

£86,900

Currently employed in Scotland

2,300

Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.

What's it like?

You would help people keep their teeth and gums healthy and strong. You’d explain to patients how to care for their teeth and gums. You’d check their mouths and treat any problems.

You’d carry out delicate procedures using medical instruments. You’d need to deal with anxious patients and people who may be upset because they are in pain.

Many dentists work as general dental practitioners (GDPs) in the community, looking after private and NHS patients. As a GDP you’d be self-employed and run your own practice. You’d mange the business and lead your team to provide a good dental service to your patients.

You would carry out dental treatments such as:

  • Filling teeth
  • Extracting teeth
  • Fitting dentures and bridges
  • Whitening teeth

As part of treatments you’d also take X-rays and give local anaesthetics.

You’d refer patients to a dental hygienist or dental therapist for certain treatments. You’d also need to keep dental records for each patient.

There are other places you could work, such as:

  • For a community dental service, treating people with special needs, young children and the elderly.
  • In a hospital doing specialised dental work such as restorative dentistry, orthodontics and oral surgery.
  • In corporate practice providing general dental services for the employees of a large business.
  • For the armed forces treating services personnel, including in combat zones

In all these areas, you would use a range of dental and surgical techniques and instruments. In a hospital you would carry out some procedures in an operating theatre.

You could also work in dental public health. This is a relatively new and expanding field. You would assess the dental health needs of the regional population rather than treat individuals, and make sure that dental services meet those needs. You would work with other dentists, NHS professionals, government departments and related agencies.

You can see more about the salary for this role in the National Health Service on the pay for dentists page on the NHS Careers website.

Working conditions

Hours

Your hours of work will vary depending on the area you work in. Part-time hours are often possible. You will usually work between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday in general practice, the community dental service, dental public health, universities, the corporate sector. You may occasionally need to work in the evenings or at weekends, or as part of an out-of-hours rota. In a hospital setting, you will usually work slightly longer and more irregular hours, including night shifts.​​​​​​

Environment

UK employment status

Full-time

32%

Part-time

9%

Self employed

59%

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  • Listening
  • Verbal communication
  • Problem solving
  • Observation
  • Empathising
  • Attention to detail
  • Developing a plan
  • Taking initiative
  • Time management
  • Taking responsibility

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Getting in

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Qualifications

You need an honours degree in dentistry (SCQF level 10)

To enter a dentistry degree requires National 5 qualifications and a minimum of 5 Highers at AAAAB or above including Chemistry and another Science subject (preferably Biology/Human Biology).

If you do not have the necessary sciences, Dundee University runs a Predental year designed for very able applicants who have a non-science background (ie. have studied not more than one science at Higher (excluding Chemistry and Biology).

A graduate dental surgery course is available at the University of Aberdeen for applicants with a first or upper second class medical science or health-related science degree. 

Useful subjects

  • English (essential)
  • Maths or Physics (essential)
  • Biology (preferably human biology), chemistry and another science (essential)

You will also need

Before applying to dental school you must sit the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT).

You need to be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.

All potential dentistry students are required to undergo screening for blood borne viruses (Hepatitis B and C, and HIV).