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Introduction
Dental surgeons work closely with patients and must develop a high standard of professional responsibility, delivering oral health care to the community within a team environment. Dentistry is an intellectually stimulating career, largely based on scientific principles, yet encompassing artistic flair. Continuing commitment to education is mandatory to keep abreast of changing techniques and new materials.
What is Dentistry?
To most people dentistry means teeth, which, of course, it is – but don't forget that teeth are attached to people's mouths, which in turn are parts of actual living bodies. Although teeth may not seem a priority in the great scheme of things, their health and appearance can greatly influence people's lives. Apart from helping us to eat our food, our teeth and our smile can greatly influence other people's judgement of us, whilst extreme toothache can be extremely debilitating for the sufferer. Being a dentist nowadays involves an awful lot more than just doing fillings and scaling teeth. Dentistry is really a major branch of medicine which deals with the care of the mouth.
So what exactly is ‘care of the mouth'? Probably much more than you might think:
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prevention of dental diseases – caries (decay to you and me) and gum disease
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repair of the damage caused by these diseases if they aren't actually prevented – fillings and so on
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screening for oral cancers – it's usually dentists, rather than doctors that pick up on these
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management of trauma -– the results of road accidents, children falling off bikes and skateboards, fights and so on; this can involve both dental (teeth) and facial repairs
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orthodontics – basically braces (for children and adults; it's never too late to wear a brace!); as techniques become more and more sophisticated, there are new ways to correct all kinds of dental problems with appliances
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oral surgery – the extraction of unrestorable, unwanted or buried teeth
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‘lumps and bumps' – mouth ulcers, white patches and assorted pains never forget that the mouth is the mirror of the body, so you'll need a very good understanding of general medicine.
In some respects being a dentist is about being a superhero – you need to be academically top-notch and have the ability to undertake precision work in adverse conditions, all the while keeping patients happy, even
when they're frightened, old, very young, ill or angry. You must be able to empathise with them, however awkward they are. It's also about enjoying science: lifelong learning is the buzzword. Dentistry is a rapidly changing profession and there is a continual need for dentists to keep up to date. Dentists must also be co-ordinated and good with their hands, as accidentally drilling the wrong tooth would obviously be a very poor start to your career.
Why study Dentistry? What can I do afterwards?
Once you have qualified there are a number of different careers open to you. Everybody needs to undergo a period of vocational training whatever branch of dentistry they initially take up. Dentistry is a fairly flexible career and selecting one particular branch does not mean that you cannot venture into others later on in your career. Advice, to help you make the appropriate choice, is available from your tutor as well as other members of staff.
General Practice: In General Dental Practice you will join an established practice and work with a trainer who will guide you in those early months. In addition, some schemes operated in different parts of the country give you the opportunity to spend part of that vocational period in a dental hospital attachment. Further training is given in day release courses during this time, covering important aspects such as practice management, advanced clinical skills and team-building.
Publicly Funded Services: The Community Dental Service runs as a complementary service to the general dental services. Dental Officers working in this publicly funded service provide dental care for those people either unwilling or unable to obtain care elsewhere, for example, disabled people, or for people in their own homes. In addition, this service provides a screening programme in schools as well as dental health education and promotion to different groups. There are also career opportunities available in the defence services and as an industrial dental surgeon.
Universities – Teaching Students: Careers in university dental schools also allow you to specialize in a particular aspect of dentistry, combining research with teaching and the treatment of patients.
Hospitals – Specialist Care: In the Hospital Dental Service you will work in different departments under the guidance of consultants and will, at the end of a two-year period of professional training, be eligible to gain additional qualifications that set you on the career pathway to become a specialist in your chosen subject. During this time you will have the chance to undertake small research or audit projects if you so wish and to write up your research for publication in a scientific journal.
Will I Enjoy Dentistry?
YES – if you:
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like people: it's essential – and not just the nice ones!
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care about them and want to improve their lives
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are methodical (have all your CDs in alphabetical order and colour coded)
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take real pride in detail (only you know the significance of the colour coding, but it still gives you an inordinate amount of satisfaction)
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like working with your hands, whether it's cooking, model-making, sewing or playing a musical instrument
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are interested in science, and its practical applications
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want a varied career
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like working as part of a team.
Course Outline
Click for picture for a larger view (May open in a new window)
Employability
Once you have qualified there are a number of different careers open to you. Everybody needs to undergo a period of vocational training whatever branch of dentistry they initially take up. Dentistry is a fairly flexible career and selecting one particular branch does not mean that you cannot venture into others later on in your career. Advice, to help you make the appropriate choice, is available from your tutor as well as other members of staff.
General Practice: In General Dental Practice you will join an established practice and work with a trainer who will guide you in those early months. In addition, some schemes operated in different parts of the country give you the opportunity to spend part of that vocational period in a dental hospital attachment. Further training is given in day release courses during this time, covering important aspects such as practice management, advanced clinical skills and team-building.
Publicly Funded Services: The Community Dental Service runs as a complementary service to the general dental services. Dental Officers working in this publicly funded service provide dental care for those people either unwilling or unable to obtain care elsewhere, for example, disabled people, or for people in their own homes. In addition, this service provides a screening programme in schools as well as dental health education and promotion to different groups. There are also career opportunities available in the defence services and as an industrial dental surgeon.
Universities – Teaching Students: Careers in university dental schools also allow you to specialize in a particular aspect of dentistry, combining research with teaching and the treatment of patients.
Hospitals – Specialist Care: In the Hospital Dental Service you will work in different departments under the guidance of consultants and will, at the end of a two-year period of professional training, be eligible to gain additional qualifications that set you on the career pathway to become a specialist in your chosen subject. During this time you will have the chance to undertake small research or audit projects if you so wish and to write up your research for publication in a scientific journal.
UK Dental Schools
Listed below are the thirteen dental schools where dental training is available:
- Belfast
The Queen's University of Belfast, School of Dentistry, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT12 6BP
Tel: 028 9063 2733 Website: http://www.qub.ac.uk/cd/
- Birmingham
Dental School, University of Birmingham, St. Chad's Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NN
Tel: 0121 237 2763 Website: http://www.dentistry.bham.ac.uk/
- Bristol
Dental School, University of Bristol, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol BS1 2LY
Tel: 0117 923 0050 Website: http://www.dentalschool.bris.ac.uk/
- Cardiff
Cardiff University, Dental School, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XY
Tel: 029 20 747 747 Website: www.cardiff.ac.uk
- Dundee
University of Dundee, Dental School, Park Place, Dundee DD1 4HN
Tel: 01382 635976/7 Website: www.dundee.ac.uk/dentalschool
- Glasgow
University of Glasgow, Glasgow Dental School, 378 Sauchiehall Street,Glasgow G2 3JZ
Tel: 0141 211 9703 Website: http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/dental/
- Leeds
School of Dentistry, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds LS2 9LU
Tel: 0113 343 6172 Website: www.leeds.ac.uk/dental
- Liverpool
School of Dental Surgery, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5PS
Tel: 0151-706 5203 Website: www.liv.ac.uk
- London
Guy's, King's & St Thomas's Dental Institute
Guy's Tower, King's College London, SE1 9RT, London SE1 9RT
Tel: 020-7188 7188 Website: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/dentistry/
- London
Barts and the London
Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, Turner Street, London E1 2AD
Tel: 020 7377 7000 Website: http://www.mds.qmw.ac.uk/dental/
- Manchester
University of Manchester, School of Dentistry, Higher Cambridge Street, Manchester M15 6FH
Tel: 0161 306 0231 Website: www.manchester.ac.uk/dentistry
- Newcastle
University of Newcastle upon Tyne, The Dental School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4BW
Tel: 0191 222 8347 Website: www.newcastle.ac.uk/dental
- Peninsular
Dental School, Universities of Exeter & Plymouth, The John Bull Building, Tamar Science Park, Research Way, Plymouth, PL6 8BU
Tel: 01752 437 333 Website: http://www.pms.ac.uk/dentistry
- Sheffield
School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Claremont Crescent, Sheffield S10 2TA
Tel: 0114 271 7801 Website: http://www.shef.ac.uk/dentalschool/
UKCAT
United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test is a new test made for medical admissions. Dental and veterinary science may also be affected. Thanks to MedSchoolsOnline, download the UKCAT leaflet here .
The test will come into being in 2006, for those applying for 2007 entry (Or those applying in 2006 for deferred entry in 2008) . Therefore the test will be sat at the end of year 12 ( I.e. at the end of AS year) . The first one will be held in summer 2006. If you applied in 2005 and have deferred entry for 2007 entry then you won't be affected.
The UKCAT will test mental ability, problem solving, logical reasoning, critical thinking, information management. It is designed so medical schools can make a more informed decision about applicants and ensure that the candidates selected have the best combination of mental abilities, attitudes and professional behaviours required for Doctors and Dentists to be successful in their clinical careers. It is not a science paper and is not curriculum based. |
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There will be practice questions (Although no preparation is really needed as it will test innate skills and competencies) and advice here www.ukcat.ac.uk . Most UK medical schools have signed up to the UKCAT, which means that nearly all potential medical students will have to sit the test, in addition to GCSEs, A. levels, UCAS personal statement and interviews. Those medical schools requiring other medical admissions tests such as the BMAT are likely to continue them for the unforeseeable future.
The test has been quoted as £60, with bursaries available for those from poorer backgrounds. There will be registration for the 90-minute test in June and it can be taken anytime between July-Sept in one of 150 or so test centres around the country (No one will be more than 40 miles from a test centre) . International students may also have to take the test, however some countries are exempt. There is a deadline to take the test, and this can be found on the website. Results will be available for the admissions process however not all of the universities signed up may use the results of the test. There may be a period of research, comparing the current admissions procedures and the new test.
Dentistry schools signed up to the UKCAT include:
Queen's University Belfast ( for entry in September 2008 onwards), Cardiff University, University of Dundee, University of Glasgow, King's College London, University of Manchester, University of Newcastle, Queen Mary, University of London, University of Sheffield.
Those universities who have appeared not to have signed up include:
Bristol University, Birmingham University, Liverpool University. |
GAMSAT
The Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test was developed in Australia and has since been pioneered in the UK. The GAMSAT helps to assist in the selection criteria mostly for students who are applying to graduate entry programmes. The GAMSAT is predominantly multiple-choice questions and tests a general knowledge base that manifests a broad spectrum of skills and aptitudes. Divided into three parts, the GAMSAT tests your reasoning and communication skills, and you'll need to have some knowledge of biology and physics to do well. It actively encourages a lateral thinking approach, thinking 'outside of the box' and exploration of wider parameters in achieving solutions. One disadvantage is the cost - a whopping £176.00! The GAMSAT is used in the following graduate entry programmes:
Peninsula Dental School (Graduates only, for entry in September 2008 onwards ) .
For more information, visit this website or join the Yahoo GAMSAT group |
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