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A dentist has the opportunity
to pursue several careers offering intellectual
and practical challenge, service to society and
a respected place in the community. Essential
qualities are a liking for people and an interest
in their welfare, as well as good eyesight and
manual dexterity.
 Oral
and dental health is a very important part of
general health. The ability to smile, eat and
talk without pain, discomfort or embarrassmentcontributes
greatly to a sense of well being. Dentists are
health care professionals who are experts in the
diagnosis and treatment of a range of problems
that affect the mouth and teeth. This demands
diagnostic, clinical and social skills. Some dentists
will become teachers or lecturers in dental schools,
others will be employed in hospitals, or community
clinics but most will become general dental practitioners.
Often, they will be managing a team of people
encompassing dental nurses, hygienists, receptionists
and others so good administrative and managerial
abilities are needed.
Qualifications
There are fourteen dental schools in the UK each
located in a major city. Dental courses last 5
years and leads to a bachelor's degree (either
BDS or BChD). The courses include a sound academic
education combined with theoretical and practical
training in all aspects of dental practice. Subjects
studied include anatomy, physiology, biochemistry,
pathology, behavioural sciences and dental materials
science, as well as clinical skills in all dental
disciplines. The academic requirements for entrance
to Dental School are high. They vary according
to the School and so should be checked individually.
Some dental schools offer a 'pre-dental' year
for suitable candidates lacking the relevant science
subjects.
Once qualified, dentists continue to update and
further their knowledge, through a wide range
of short courses. There is also the possibility
of studying for further postgraduate qualifications,
sometimes on a part-time basis.
Practice
After qualification there are a variety of areas
in which you can choose to practise.
General dental practice
Most dentists, after graduating, choose to work
as general dental practitioners (GDPs). The first
step is to undertake one year's 'vocational training',
which is supervised training, working in an approved
training practice. Following vocational training,
dentists usually enter an established general
practice as an associate, i.e. as a self-employed
dentist, responsible for the treatment that they
provide but working in a practice owned by someone
else. Later on a dentist may often become a practice
owner, either becoming a partner, buying a practice
or establishing a new practice. Like a medical
general practitioner, you have the opportunity
to form long term relationships with your patients
and provide them with continuing care. As well
as an ability to get on well with people and for
clinical dentistry, it is essential to have an
aptitude for business, since the dentist is a
manager and team leader running a small business.
There is no formal general dental practice career
structure, so you can further your knowledge at
your own pace and follow the particular dental
specialities that are of interest to you.
GDPs can choose where they work and the hours
they keep. They may practise under the National
Health Service or privately - most dentists see
a mixture of NHS and private patients. Treatment
for adults under the National Health Service is
paid for under a fee per item basis: the dentist
receives a set fee for each procedure carried
out. For children, dentists are paid by a mixture
of fees for each item of treatment and monthly
payments for each child on their list. Private
fees are set by each dentist individually and
vary according to individual practice circumstances.
Although being a self-employed general dental
practitioner is demanding and there are risks
involved in running your own business, it can
be the most rewarding area of practice.
Hospital Dentistry
Hospital practice is highly specialised and covers
oral surgery, restorative dentistry, children's
dentistry and orthodontics. Hospital dentists
send to see fewer patients than general dental
practitioners, but their treatment is usually
more complex as they have generally been referred
by a general dental practitioner or doctor. Patients
may be referred with complex medical conditions,
or congenital abnormalities or complex facial
injuries.
Unlike general dental practitioners hospital dentists
receive a salary. They generally work as part
of a team and have access to specialised knowledge
and facilities. However, the hours are not as
flexible and time will be spent 'on call' resulting
in long working sessions.
Within the hospital service there is a defined
careers structure and training pathways, and advancement
requires obtaining recognised postgraduate qualifications.
Community dental service
The Community dental service (CDS) provides dental
care for patients with special needs. In particular
the CDS looks after young children who need special
help, as well as elderly and housebound people
and patients with mental or physical disabilities.
Work in the CDS is therefore demanding but very
rewarding and dentists can undertake managerial
and research duties. As with the hospital service,
these posts are salaried and there is a defined
career structure.
Armed forces
Dentists in the armed forces provide a comprehensive
service for service men and women, both abroad
and in the UK. Dentists hold a commissioned rank
and there is a very structured career path. If
you choose to practice in the armed forces, financial
scholarships may be available during your dental
studies.
Dentists in industry
Some large companies (e.g. oil companies) offer
a dental serviced to their employees. These posts
are salaried but the role is equivalent to that
of ageneral dental practitioner.
University teaching and
research
Research is undertaken at universities and is
usually combined with teaching at the university
dental school. This can provide the opportunity
to pursue a particular interest in great detail.
University dental teachers will have gained postgraduate
qualifications and can progress to become senior
lecturers or professors.
Registration and Professional
Ethics
On qualifying and before being able to practise,
dentists must register with the General Dental
Council, the profession's governing body. Dentist
must follow ethical guidelines in their dealings
with patients and failure to do so may call their
continued registration into question.
The Author:
British Dental Association, 64 Wimpole Street,
London W1M 8AL
This article first appeared in School Leaver magazine
1998
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