Working as a Dentist in the UK.

There are thirteen dental schools in the UK. Dental courses usually last five years and lead to a bachelor's degree (either BDS or BChD).  The academic requirements for entrance to a dental school are high, usually a minimum of; five GCSEs (including English, maths and science) three A levels graded AAA to ABB (including science and maths). Upon application you may also be asked to take the UK Clinical Aptitude Test. This is designed to help universities select students with the personal qualities and mental abilities needed for a career as a dentist. The criteria for applicants vary and should be checked with each school.

Once qualified you must ensure that you are registered with the General Dental Council before working in the UK. There are then  a variety of areas in which you can choose to practice :

Most dentists, after graduating, choose to work as family general dental practitioners (GDPs). Following satisfactory completion of an initial vocational training period dentists usually enter an established practice as an associate, a self-employed dentist, responsible for the treatment that they provide, but working in a practice owned by someone else. Associates often eventually become a practice owner (principal), becoming a partner, buying a practice or establishing a new practice. GDPs may practice under the National Health Service (NHS) or privately - most dentists see a mixture of NHS and private patients.

Our expert dental consultants are able to advise you on different career paths and give a current market appraisal and details of immediate and future opportunities. 
Dentists must continue to update and further their knowledge. To maintain registration with the GDC it is a requirement that you complete around 250 hours of professional development (CPD) every five years.

Our dental practice sales and acquisitions team can help you if you are looking for a JV opportunity or to buy or sell a practice.

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Dentists coming to the UK.
 
The General Dental Council recognizes certain overseas dental qualifications as being eligible for registration.  It is important to confirm your registration status and the documentation required for registration with the GDC before you arrive in the UK.
For further details on the eligibility of qualifications from all countries and how to make an application, please visit the GDC website.

There may of course be further requirements, for example, you will need an appropriate visa or work permit and a good command of the English language.

At Open we have successfully placed qualified dentists from overseas either in locum or permanent roles. There is no charge for dentists seeking to work in the UK to register with us.

To work as a Dental Nurse in the UK

There are around 24,000 dental nurses in the UK. Dental nurses are an essential part of a dental team, working alongside the dentist with patients. The dental nurse assists the dentist by passing instruments, mixing materials, taking notes for patients records and ensuring the patients comfort at all times. Cross-infection control, including the sterilization of all instruments, is also the responsibility of the dental nurse.

To become a dental nurse you can either study full-time for a Certificate of Higher Education in Dental Nursing or become a trainee dental nurse and study part-time for a General Dental Council (GDC) approved qualification. Relevant courses include:

GDC registration has been compulsory for dental nurses since July 2008. The NVQ in Oral Health Care, and the NVQ in dental nursing are currently the qualifications eligible for registration.

Once qualified and registered you could work in:

Experience as a dental nurse is good preparation for progression to other dental roles such as dental hygienist or dental therapist, dental nurse team manager, team leader, or dental practice manager.

Our expert dental consultants are able to advise you on different career paths and give a current market appraisal and details of immediate and future opportunities.
 
Our dental practice sales and acquisitions team can help you if you are looking for a JV opportunity or to buy or sell a practice.

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Dental Nurses coming to the UK.
 
The General Dental Council recognizes certain overseas dental qualifications as being eligible for registration.  It is important to confirm your registration status and the documentation required for registration with the GDC before you arrive in the UK.
There may of course be further requirements, for example, you will need an appropriate visa or work permit and a good command of the English language.

At Open we have successfully placed qualified dental professionals from overseas either in locum or permanent roles. There is no charge for dentists seeking to work in the UK to register with us.

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Dental Hygienists

The minimum requirements to train as a dental hygienist are: five GCSEs (grade A to C, including English and a science subject) and either a nationally recognized dental nursing qualification or two "A" levels. Schools of dental hygiene are attached to dental teaching hospitals and the armed forces. Competition for places is strong.
To become a Hygienist will need to take a General Dental Council (GDC) approved course, such as:

When you graduate, you must register with the GDC and you could work in all areas of dentistry including general dental practice, cosmetic dentistry, in hospitals, and the Community Dental Service. With experience, you could progress to dental practice manager. You could also work towards a Certificate in Oral Health Education and specialise in health promotion work, or go into orthodontic therapy

Our expert dental consultants are able to advise you on different career paths and give a current market appraisal and details of immediate and future opportunities
There are currently over 3,900 dental hygienists in the UK. The primary role of the dental hygienist is that of an educator, helping to give patients the necessary skills to maintain their oral hygiene effectively. They also do work inside patients' mouths (such as scaling and polishing teeth) and are an integral part of the dental team.

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Dental Hygienists coming to the UK.
 
The General Dental Council recognizes certain overseas dental qualifications as being eligible for registration.  It is important to confirm your registration status and the documentation required for registration with the GDC before you arrive in the UK.
There may of course be further requirements, for example, you will need an appropriate visa or work permit and a good command of the English language.

 At Open we have successfully placed qualified dental professionals from overseas either in locum or permanent roles. There is no charge for dentists seeking to work in the UK to register with us.

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Dental Therapists

The minimum requirements to train as a dental therapist in the UK are five GCSEs and either a nationally recognized dental nursing qualification or two "A" levels.
Once qualified a therapist must be enrolled with the General Dental Council in order to practice in the UK.

There are currently only around 370 dental therapists working in the UK. Therapists work closely with the dentist and can carry out certain clinical work (including fillings). A Therapists role is also to act as an educator, teaching patients the necessary skills to enable them to maintain effective oral hygiene.

Dental Therapists coming to the UK.
 
The General Dental Council recognizes certain overseas dental qualifications as being eligible for registration.  It is important to confirm your registration status and the documentation required for registration with the GDC before you arrive in the UK.

There may of course be further requirements, for example, you will need an appropriate visa or work permit and a good command of the English language.

At Open we have successfully placed qualified dental professionals from overseas either in locum or permanent roles. There is no charge for dentists seeking to work in the UK to register with us.

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Dental Technicians

There are approximately 8,000 dental technicians in the UK. Dental technicians design, build, repair and adjust dental devices for people who have lost teeth or need help to correct the appearance and performance of their teeth.

To work as a dental technician in the UK, you need to be on the General Dental Council (GDC) register.To get onto the register, you need to complete one of the following qualifications in dental technology:

For advanced dental technology work, you are likely to need the degree-level qualification.
Dental technicians work in a variety of settings, most opportunities are with general dental practice, hospitals, community dental services and commercial dental labs. There are also dental technicians in the armed forces. In a lab environment, you could progress to senior or chief technician (usually with achievement of further qualifications), there may also be opportunities to move into quality control, sales and management. Teaching may also be a career path on gaining further qualifications and experience or you could go on to set up your own laboratory and become self-employed.

Our expert dental consultants are able to advise you on different career paths and give a current market appraisal and details of immediate and future opportunities.

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Dental Technicians coming to the UK.
 
The General Dental Council recognizes certain overseas dental qualifications as being eligible for registration.  It is important to confirm your registration status and the documentation required for registration with the GDC before you arrive in the UK.
There may of course be further requirements, for example, you will need an appropriate visa or work permit and a good command of the English language.

 At Open we have successfully placed qualified dental professionals from overseas either in locum or permanent roles. There is no charge for dentists seeking to work in the UK to register with us.

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