Page Content
Job profiles
Dentist
Hours
30-40 per week
Starting salary
£60,000 + per year
If you are good at science and interested in oral health this could be ideal for you. Dentists treat problems affecting the mouth and teeth, prevent dental disease and promote oral health. Many work as general practice dentists in the community, looking after private and NHS patients.
Before you can work as a dentist, you will need to complete a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree.
To become a dentist, you will need to have good hand-eye coordination. You need to concentrate for long periods of time. You will also need excellent communication skills to explain treatments to patients.
WorkDesc
The work
As a general practice dentist, services that you provide for patients could include:
- dental treatments, such as teeth whitening, fillings, extractions, and fitting dentures and bridges
- taking X-rays and giving local anaesthetic
- referring patients to a dental hygienist or dental therapist for certain treatments.
You would keep dental records for each patient. If you were running your own practice, you would be responsible for the day-to-day management of the business and dental team.
As well as general dental practice, you could also work in:
- the Community Dental Service – providing treatment to people with special needs, young children and the elderly
- hospitals – carrying out specialised dental work, such as restorative dentistry, orthodontics and oral surgery
- universities – teaching and researching dentistry
- corporate practice – working for a large business providing general dental services for their employees
- the armed forces – providing dental treatment for soldiers in both war and peace times.
In all areas of dentistry, 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.
HoursDesc
Hours
Your hours of work could vary depending on the sector you work in. Part-time hours are often possible.
In general practice, the Community Dental Service, at a university or in the corporate sector, you would usually work between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday. However, you may occasionally work in the evenings or at weekends, or as part of an out-of-hours rota. In a hospital setting, you could work slightly longer and more irregular hours, possibly including night shifts.
IncomeDesc
Income
Dentists in general practice are mostly self-employed. Their annual income varies depending on the amount and type of work they do, how much NHS and private work they do, and the costs involved in running a business.
Self-employed dentists may earn between around £60,000 and £120,000 a year or more.
Salaried NHS dentists working for local NHS Primary Care Trusts may earn up to around £80,000 a year, and consultant (hospital) dentists can earn between £74,500 and £176,300 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
Before you can work as a dentist, you will need to complete a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree (known as BDS or BChD), which takes around five years. When you graduate, you must register with General Dental Council. See the British Dental Association website for details of approved courses.
To do a degree you will usually need:
- at least five GCSEs (A-C) including English, maths and science subjects
- three A levels at grades ranging from AAA to ABB, including chemistry and biology.
Check with dental schools for exact entry requirements as other qualifications may also be accepted. Some schools offer a one-year pre-dental course to those without science A levels.
When you apply for a degree in dentistry, you may also be asked to take the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT). Universities use this test to help them select students with the personal qualities and mental abilities needed for this career. Your university will tell you if you need to take the test.
If you have already studied biology, chemistry or biomedical science at degree level, you may be able to take a four-year accelerated degree in dentistry.
During a degree course in dentistry, you will study subjects ranging from psychology and sociology to medicine and microbiology. You will also examine the structure and function of oral and dental tissues, and gain practical experience through clinical training and work placements.
You may need a driving licence to work in the Community Dental Service, as this involves visiting patients at a variety of clinics.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you have graduated from dental school you will begin a period of work-based vocational training, working under supervision in an approved dental practice.
Many trainee dentists then join an established dental practice as an associate or assistant, which involves working as a self-employed dentist in a practice owned by another dental professional. With experience, you could go on to become a partner in the practice or set up your own practice.
To work in the hospital dental service, you would have a period of training in a hospital. During this time you would gain experience in a range of hospital specialties.
As a qualified dentist, you can specialise by doing further postgraduate training in a specific area of interest, for example orthodontics (straightening or moving teeth).
To remain registered with the General Dental Council (GDC), you will need to complete around 250 hours of professional development (CPD) every five years. See the GDC website for further details.
Dentists from overseas
If you qualified outside the EU, you will need to take the GDC Overseas Registration Examination. Check with the General Dental Council for more information.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To become a dentist, you will need to have:
- good hand-eye coordination
- the ability to concentrate for long periods of time
- an interest and ability in science
- excellent communication skills to explain treatments to patients
- an sympathetic and friendly approach
- the ability to put anxious patients at ease
- a professional and confident manner
- leadership skills
- business and management skills to run a dental practice.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Health Learning and Skills Advice Line 
Tel: 08000 150850
NHS Careers
PO Box 2311
Bristol
BS2 2ZX
Tel: 0345 60 60 655
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
British Dental Association
64 Wimpole Street
London
W1G 8YS
Tel: 020 7935 0875
www.bda-dentistry.org.uk
General Dental Council
37 Wimpole Street
London
W1G 8DQ
Tel: 020 7887 3800
www.gdc-uk.org
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
Most opportunities are in general practice as a self-employed dentist. You could also work at hospitals, universities or for the Community Dental Service.
If you are looking to return to dentistry following a career break, there may be incentives and refresher training packages available locally. Check with your local dental school (university) for details.
You may find the following useful for vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
Further sources
NHS Careers has sections on:
View full Job market information
News
