Dentistry- any forums or advice on here?

[toomuchgoingonhere]

Hola,

i can see lots of lovely supportive threads on here for different uni’s and medicine applications. Can anyone point me in the direction of my dentistry ones if there are any?

Popular and highly-ranked dental schools in the UK
University of Dundee
University of Glasgow
Queen's University Belfast
University of Bristol
University of Liverpool
University of Plymouth
Cardiff University
Newcastle University
Queen Mary, University of London
King's College London
University of Birmingham
University of Leeds

• Program type:
• Some universities offer a general BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) degree, while others may have specific programs like a 3-year BDS for graduates or foundation-year options.
• Competitive entry:
• Dentistry is a very competitive field, and there are no "easy" dental schools to get into.
• Postgraduate options:
• While full-time, part-time undergraduate dentistry is not currently available in the UK, universities like Oxford and Cambridge offer relevant postgraduate courses after completing an undergraduate dental degree.
• Program curriculum:
• The curriculum can vary by university, with some like the University of Glasgow focusing on clinical dentistry from the start, while others like the University of Birmingham may emphasize early exposure to critical care scenarios.

Have you any particular questions? My dc graduated a few years ago and loves their work now.

Thank you so much. I wanted to join a thread and read up on it. DD has told us that’s what she’d like to do, but only year 10 so just starting to read up on things.

no specific questions yet. Are there exams or specific dental things to do in Year 13? Before Uni? Im sure we’ll find this all out in the next few years.

Get the best grades she can for gcses is the best advice for now.

It is extremely competitive course to get on around 6% of applicants get a place , everyone will have three As at a level and high UCAT scores . This is a clinical aptitude test .

Alongside this all schools will want work experience in the dental field, preferably in more than one setting , evidence of manual dexterity eg crafts , musical instruments and good communication skills.

However probably one of the most important aspects is how well do they cope with stress? The course is very intensive and there is a significant drop out rate . There is also a significant drop out rate post graduation. So if a student doesn’t cope with stress well now I wouldn’t encourage them to do dentistry.

Also now she needs to start working on her cv , interests that show leadership skills and team working skills.

Voluntary work is also important and again that shows team working skills, commitment and caring nature.

When she is older shop, restaurant , or similar jobs that involve working with the public will help with the soft skills that are so important in dentistry.

It is a great job, if you are right for it, but requires huge amounts of work, discipline and dedication not only to get in but for the rest of their practicing life.

In year 10, I would just be getting them to read and find out more about the profession so they have a fuller understanding of the job. What has sparked and motivated this interest for example- a nice family dentist? friends/their parents? teacher remark? social media etc? Do they like working with their hands? Are they interested in people in general?

GCSEs grades are important in that certain dental schools require specific minimum grades eg 7, 8s in English , Maths etc. Read the Dental Schools Council booklet for latest criteria and to ensure she eventually chooses suitable A levels.

She really doesn't need to 'work on her CV' at this stage. And although dental work experience is certainly desirable, several dental schools have dropped this requirement as they recognised the barrier that this can create for those without relevant connections, social capital or just plain wherewithal.

I'm not sure that drop out rates are actually 'significant' as another poster claims (this can be checked in Higher Ed data) and we all have different peer groups, but there certainly are some people who discover they are unsuited, or cannot keep up.

I'm a dentist coming out the other end of my career. It's been good to me. The pay is good and generally secure. I've enjoyed helping people be and feel healthier and have better oral health, solving pain, working with great colleagues, watching my patients grow up, among many other things. The shopkeeper, excessive admin and unrealistic patient/ workplace expectations parts not so much! I'm not sure I'd agree with the comments on dedication (my family is my first priority), but I am disciplined, interested in keeping up to date and bettering my skills and knowledge, and I do like to be busy and work hard. Lots of jobs are stressful, but it certainly is high pressure and responsibility. You can learn to manage that, but I agree it's not a job for people who don't cope with stress. BTW, most of my cohort are still working and all but 2 are is still in dentistry (one 'married well' -another dentist, as is common- and never worked after kids, the other did Medicine and works in MaxFax)

So good luck to her. I'll check back periodically in case I can offer any more insights.

The statistics I’ve seen indicate a drop out rate for undergraduates of between 8 and 16% in the U.K. . Unfortunately my cohort of dentists has a sizeable number who are doing things outside of dentistry from pilot to cake making to musician to lawyer etc .

As someone involved in both post graduate training and support of dentists in crisis I can say there is also quite a lot of young dentists with burn out who are leaving the profession or leaving the profession in the U.K. to work elsewhere.

As someone who interviews for admission to a dental school dental work experience is still seen as important as are the personal qualities and soft skills exhibited in extra circular activities including non dental work experience. Unfortunately some leave it late with developing interests and it is obvious when they are asked to talk about it at interview , hence start working on cv now.

I love dentistry and was devastated when I had to give up clinical work due to illness , and in some ways it is a good career to combine with having children as I could work part time easily. However with being self employed there is no maternity pay if no NHS work and limited if NHS so I went back to work weeks after children were born.

There are lots of hoops to jump through to get into dental school as it is one of the most competitive courses to get on. It is important not to have unrealistic expectations of lifestyle and work involved as public opinion and media give very inaccurate ideas of life in dentistry.

one of the other things to explore is a degree in oral health science or equivalent which will qualify you as a dental therapist. They have much of the same scope of practice as a dentist , the academic requirements are less, the course is only three years instead of five , the stress and responsibility are much less but you can still earn a good wage , in many cases more than an early years dentist.

I think doing some work experience, while not essential for applying for the course, is useful to see what 'real' dentistry is like. Best place to ask is your own dentist, after that contact your local community dental service or if you have one close, a dental hospital. Most hospitals have an Oral Surgery department for tooth extractions, but this is very different from every day dental practice.

Your DD might love it, or it might make her think again about dentistry as a career. Either outcome will be useful.

Thank you. My goodness- they’re all so far from us, except the London ones. Are there any on your list which you would recommend for the experience? I mean not just the too name/fancy. I have no idea what Newcastle is like for example.

sorry- I mean are there more campus style places rather than city?

Most dental schools are within dental hospitals so are near a central hospital site. Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool are definitely like this. Manchester is within walking distance of the Manchester Royal infirmary. Birmingham is fairly new and built on the pebble Mill studio site. I've never been but apparently Plymouth is relatively rural and surrounded by fields.

Dental students need lots of decay to treat to get experience so patients come from all walks of life, including very deprived areas in city centres. Some universities offer 'outreach' too where students travel to where the need is greatest which is often the most popular time of the course. I was at Manchester University and went out to Salford and Oldham to treat patients

UEA in Norwich has just been granted 25 dentistry places commencing Sep 2027. Is this closer to you?

Yes. Thank you.