How to Become a Dentist in England
Dentistry in the U.K. is a field that is very much in demand. It is also highly competitive, with the University of Manchester claiming that there are 775 applicants for 75 places. Dentistry courses can be easier to get into than medical courses, with lower A-Level grades being needed. The U.K. Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) is not widely used, but it is being implemented. There are routes for those who already have a degree in a science field. Upon graduation, there is the option to enter postgraduate study in order to become more specialised in dentistry.
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Instructions
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Apply to dental school. Dentistry applications, like medical applications, have to be completed a long time before non-science degrees. These are done through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). As part of your application, you need to complete a personal essay explaining why you want to become a dentist, as well as describing any applicable experience. This, along with your grades and a recommendation from a teacher, will be used to decide whether or not you are accepted.
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Get into dental school. To do this, you will need good A-Level grades. AAB is the accepted standard, although requirements may be higher depending on the school. Science based GCSEs are also required. If you do not have science based A-Levels, then you need to complete a six-year course. The extra year is a foundation year, designed to put students on the same footing as their science-based colleagues. To get into a foundation course, you will need to pass the UKCAT, and have GCSEs in Biology and Chemistry. Work experience shadowing a dentist is also recommended.
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Complete a two-year postgraduate course. After graduating, dentists are required to choose a specialty. These include pediatric dentistry, dental surgery, sedation and cosmetic dentistry. Once this course is completed, there are plenty of jobs. The NHS is experiencing a shortage of dentists.
Some dental schools allow you to take a year out from studies in order to gain a specialty. This can take the form of a Bachelor of Science degree, or BSc for short. You can also gain a Master of Research degree, or MRes for short, after the fourth year.
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Become registered with the local primary care trust, or PCT. In order to be registered as a dentist in a specific area, a graduate from dental school has to complete an additional year of vocational training in that area. This includes training in region-specific issues. Once this is completed, dentists can join a practice as an assistant, or work in a dental hospital.
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Tips & Warnings
The more experience you have in a dentist's office, the better your chances of being accepted into a program will be.
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- Photo Credit dentist x-ray 01 image by Dragan Bombek from Fotolia.com
