Careers in Dental Healthcare

 In 2008, the BBC reported that the UK was facing a shortage of dentists. More than 1 in 6 people were struggling at the time to find an NHS dentist, and many were just giving up. This is changing, but a large number of dentists still prefer to offer private dental services over public services. An increasing public interest in cosmetic dentistry – tooth whitening, polishing, and computerised smile analyses – has seen the average salary of private dentists grow significantly. There will always be a demand for cosmetic services, and there will always be a growing demand for public dental health workers.

Despite this, many are unsure what route to take in pursuit of a career in dentistry. There are a number of different career pathways and each has its own merits. Some have a greater potential for funding, whereas others are more vocational but allow for part-time study. As medically trained professionals, dentists are trained with the same rigour as doctors; therefore, good grades and an ability to retain lots of information are a prerequisite for any aspiring doctor (dentists are qualified doctors but do not always use the prefix).

There are also a number of different pathways to consider following university. Dental healthcare is constantly evolving and dentists are required to stay up-to-date with the latest technology and dental techniques.

Whatever your aim, click here to read a guide that will provide you with all of the information you require to pursue a career in dentistry.