It is beneficial to your application if you have work experience in a variety of dental settings. This includes the compulsory experience for most Universities in a General Dental Practice, as well as optional areas such as Private Dentistry, Orthodontics, Hospital Dentistry, a Dental Laboratory, Oral and Maxillofacial surgery and in a Community Dental Practice. By doing work experience in a variety of settings, in your Personal statement and at interview you will be able to discuss in depth the similarities and differences between different areas and the reasons for this, as well as gaining a clear overview of how different areas of Dentistry work together to provide effective treatment.
Although having work experience in various setting is advisable, don't lose track of the fact that solid work experience in a General Dental Practice (in the UK) should be central to your application.
General Dental Practice
Requirement: Necessary
Aim for: 2 weeks +
The majority of Dental schools require work experience in a General Dental practice (GDP), as this is the area of Dentistry most graduates enter after University. Most Universities ask for a minimum of 2 weeks in a GDP - this can be two weeks in one practice, a week in two different practices, or even various days in a number of different practices. For more information of different Universities' requirements, see here.
It is beneficial not to just do two weeks in one single practice, as by doing work experience in more than one establishment you can gain an understanding of how different practices run, and the reasons for this.
Generally, your work experience will be a combination of two different roles. Firstly, you may be assigned to administration tasks such as filing patient records, making and taking telephone calls and booking appointments on reception. Secondly, you may be given the opportunity to shadow a Dentist or a Dental nurse whilst they are in surgery. Your Dentist or the Dental nurse should always ask for patient consent before the appointment begins.
If you are lucky, some General Dental practices have in-house Dental hygienists or Dental therapists who you may also have the opportunity to shadow. This will allow you to draw upon the importance of team work in Dentistry in your Personal statement.
Private Dentistry
Requirement: Optional, but beneficial
Aim for: Anything from a few days - 2 weeks (or even more if possible)
You can gain work experience in Private Dentistry by observing in a practice that offers both NHS and Private treatments, or a practice that is solely Private. Private dentistry will usually be a combination of patients who wanted faster treatment than on the NHS, or for those who want Cosmetic dentistry such as implants or veneers. Private dentistry will be useful to your application as in interview you will be able to draw upon the differences between both the private and NHS sectors, and answer questions on things such as the value of the NHS effectively.
Orthodontics
Requirement: Optional, but beneficial
Aim for: Anything from a few days - 2 weeks (or even more if possible)
Orthodontics is a speciality of Dentistry that is concerned with improper bites (malocclussions) and the correction of irregularities of the teeth. You will probably know that the majority of an Orthodontist's job is concerned with fitting and changing Dental braces. As this is a speciality of Dentistry, the majority of your time will be observing and doing administration work.
By doing work experience with an Orthodontist you gain insight into a different field of Dentistry, and how this speciality cooperates with other fields such as General Practice. You will also be able expand your knowledge of specialist procedures.
Hospital Dentistry / Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Requirement: Optional, but beneficial
Aim for: Anything from a few days - 2 weeks (or even more if possible)
Gaining work experience in a hospital setting will be extremely valuable for your application as you can show many skills that are valuable to being a successful Dentist, such as effective communication skills and a caring nature. Observing a hospital dentist will give you an insight into a completely different area of Dentistry, which you will then be able to compare with the NHS and even the private sector.
Dental Laboratory
Requirement: Optional, but beneficial
Aim for: 2 or 3 days
Work experience in a Dental laboratory will allow you to see the role of a Dental technician and their importance to a practising Dentist. A technician is someone who makes the dental appliances for General Dentistry and Cosmetic Dentistry, including: bridges, crowns, dentures and implants.
During experience at a Dental laboratory, you may be given the opportunity to make impressions or make an appliance such as a denture. This will be useful in displaying manual dexterity skills.
Community Dental Practice
Requirement: Optional, but beneficial
Aim for: A few days - 1 week
A Community Dental Practice is a specialist practice that deals with patients who are unable to attend a General Dental Practice. This can include those with learning difficulties or disabilities, those who need emergency treatment and those who have a strong fear, or even a phobia of the Dentist.
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