Dentistry is a career unlike any other. It is a challenging career path in which you will be treating patients even during your degree training. What’s more, for the right individuals, Dentistry can also be extremely rewarding.
To a certain degree, studying Dentistry ties you to the career path of being a Dentist. Whilst many Dentists work within the National Health Service (NHS), it is also possible to work privately at a later stage in your career.
It is vital to understand the realities of being a Dentist. These include how long you’ll be studying for, the lifelong learning commitment of continual professional development and the practicalities of the work that Dentists do on a daily basis.
Similarly to Medicine, Dentistry combines scientific knowledge and problem solving with interacting with patients. In addition to this, Dentistry is a hands-on career that requires high levels of manual dexterity and perseverance to develop the required skills. Combining these skills allows Dentists to make an impact in people’s lives; whether it’s alleviating the pain of a carious tooth or giving a patient an aesthetic smile through orthodontic appliances.
On the flipside, Dentistry can be very stressful. It often involves working to tight deadlines, dealing with anxious patients and sometimes being unable to help patients.
One of the best ways to decide whether Dentistry is the career for you is by getting some Dentistry work experience! Read our case studies and follow our blogs relating to Dentistry to see if you’re interested!
There are certain skills and qualities that make a good Dentist, some of these are:
Applying to study Dentistry is a challenging process that requires many steps. The steps required are:
Many candidates choose to study Dentistry after completing a previous degree, there are often dedicated Graduate Entry Dentistry programmes that are along four years. However, these places are very competitive due to reduced numbers.
If you are interested in working in healthcare but you aren’t sure about becoming a Dentist you might be interested in pursuing a career in Medicine or another Allied Health Profession.
Loading More Content