How to Become an NHS Dentist
If you are interested in becoming a dentist in the United Kingdom, there are several career paths you can take, including becoming a National Health Service dentist. In order to be an NHS dentist, you will need to undertake a specific path of education as well as training. While studying and training to become an NHS dentist, you will need to meet the standards of the General Dental Council. It's challenging, but if you complete the necessary training you can become an NHS dentist.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Enroll in your undergraduate dental education. Dental programs are monitored by the General Dental Council and you should only enroll in programs that are GDC approved. You can get a list of approved schools from the GDC. Undergraduate dental programs last five years, however some schools offer an accelerated program that lasts four years.
-
2
Complete your practical training. Before you can complete your undergraduate dental education, you will need to complete your required practical training. Typically you will be placed in hospital dentistry working as a house surgeon, which is the equivalent of a paid internship in the United States. You will be paid for this training and once it is completed, you will earn your bachelor's degree.
-
-
3
Select your field of interest. Dentists in the United Kingdom can work in a variety of fields, such as in hospital dentistry or in a general dentist practice. Once you get your bachelor's degree, you will need to select a field of interest so that you can complete your specialty training.
-
4
Begin you postgraduate dental education. Your postgraduate dental education is when you get training specific to your chosen specialty. If you want to work offering general dentist services, then you will need to do vocational training to be a vocational dental practitioner. If you want to work in hospital dentistry, then you will train as a senior house office at a hospital. If you want to be a specialist, you will need to go to a Royal Surgical College. Most NHS dentists work as general practice dentists offering general dental services, which means you need VDP training at the dental school. VDP training lasts for one year.
-
5
Once you complete your VDP training you will look for an established general dental practice that you can begin your career at. You will be considered an associate or an assistant when you first begin your career as an NHS dentist. Eventually you can become a partner by buying a general dentist practice or by establishing a new general dentist practice of your own.
-
1
