How to become a Dentist

Wondering how to become a dentist, or whether it’s the right career choice for you? Though a distinguished and often lucrative career, dentistry can be a difficult field to work in and one that isn’t for everyone. However, for those who are driven, have an attention for detail and a scientific mind, it can be a highly rewarding career. 

In this article, we explore everything you’ll need to know about becoming a dentist. Whether it’s how long it takes to become a dentist, whether you need a postgraduate qualification, and what the entry requirements are for dentistry courses, you’ll find the answers you need to launch a successful career in dentistry right here. 

CONTENT

• Why become a dentist?
• How do I become a dentist?
• What are the entry requirements?
• What skills do I need to become a dentist?
• What universities offer dentistry courses?

Why become a dentist? 

The dentist is a long-established and highly respected role within the medical field. These specialised healthcare practitioners train for years in understanding, diagnosing and treating conditions or issues affecting the mouth and oral health.  

Though a career path that comes with its own unique challenges—including tough academic and professional training, high pressure situations and tasks that are both physically and mentally demanding—dentistry remains a highly competitive and sought after role. 

Working as a dentist offers the opportunity to earn a very competitive salary. Whether working in the NHS or a private healthcare facility, as part of a wider practice or independently, or even as the owner of your own practice, the ceiling for income is high. 

Not only that, but working as a dentist means helping people deal with some of the most painful and stressful types of conditions that affect most of us at some point in our lives. It’s a varied, satisfying job that could see all kinds of people walk through your office door, presenting a diversity of interesting challenges to overcome. 

How do I become a dentist? 

Dentistry is a regulated medical profession. As a result, you’ll need to be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) in order to work as a dental practitioner. In order to get registered, students will need to complete an approved dentistry course.  

You might be asking yourself, “how long does it take to become a dentist?”. You can start from undergraduate level, which usually takes five years or more to complete, or undertake an accelerated postgraduate dental pathway if you already have a degree in a relevant area such as chemistry or biology. This usually takes four years to complete. 

In order to work as a dentist in the NHS, a period of supervised professional training is required for one year after graduating. There are various options open to dental graduates at this point—they may choose to focus on dentistry work in a hospital setting, research, or working in a dental practice. 

Some roles in dentistry require further specialised training, allowing you to perform complex procedures and take on specific roles such as orthodontist or endodontist. Further training and education will help you stand out to employers in both the public and private health sectors, and allow you to earn a higher dentist salary. 

What are the entry requirements? 

There are a wide range of dentistry courses to choose from at postgraduate level. As a result, the entry requirements for each will vary widely. Not only this, but admissions criteria may differ depending on the university offering the course and their individual policies. 

To get a place on a taught master’s in dentistry, you’ll typically need an undergraduate degree in dentistry with a good grade—normally 2:2 or above. You should also be a practicing dentist who is active as a professional and registered as a practitioner with the General Dental Council (GDC).  

Professional or clinical experience is often desired by admissions teams for postgraduate dental courses. 

What skills do I need to become a dentist? 

Working as a dentist is a specialised career path that requires lengthy training. As a dentist, you’ll need to be proficient in a number of different treatments and be able to perform everything from examinations to drilling teeth and building restorations, as well as surgeries such as tooth extraction.

In addition to this, you’ll need to have an excellent knowledge of oral health and the science of dentistry, as well as other relevant areas of the body such as the face and jaw. 

Other important skills for dentists include having an eye for detail. With many dental issues or potential future problems being difficult to spot, being able to detect and address these threats early on is invaluable. Being able to concentrate for long stretches and work under pressure are other competencies that will combine to help you perform at the top of the industry. 

Being empathetic, compassionate and understanding of your patients and their experiences is also important, as gaining their trust and acting in their best interest is a central part of your responsibility as a member of the medical profession.

Communicating with a diverse range of people and converting complex dental information into something easy to understand will help you deliver a great patient experience. 

What universities offer dentistry courses? 

You can choose from more than 180 postgraduate dentist qualifications, on offer at over 30 different universities around the UK. With so many programmes to choose from, the best way to browse courses and find your perfect university for dentistry is to use our course search tool. You’ll find details on every course, from entry requirements to content and fees. 

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