In addition to caring for a range of patients, including infants, teenagers, and the elderly, a dentist frequently manages a team of dental nurses, therapists, as well as technicians.
The role of a general dentist is the most prevalent one in dentistry (GDP). You’ll work as a self-employed contractor providing general dental care to the general public as a GDP in high street dental offices. Part-time work is another option in hospitals. You could provide services to the public health system, the private sector, or both. Check out The Dental Practice for an example of an established professional dental practice.
Dental Treatments
You might choose to concentrate on a different area of dentistry, like:
Community dental care is the practice of providing care at patients’ homes, nursing homes, and community clinics for those with special needs who are unable to visit a high-street dental office.
Analyzing the dental needs of populations as opposed to individuals through non-clinical activity is the practice of dental public health.
Dental treatment in hospitals requires managing particularly challenging situations as well as attending to long-term hospital patients, momentary emergency patients, or the general public for educational purposes.
Providing a comprehensive range of dental services to members of the armed forces in the UK and abroad while serving as a military dental officer.
Responsibilities
Dental professionals must:
- Patients’ concerns concerning dental care.
- Examine teeth using tools like x-rays to identify dental problems.
- After assessing treatment options and creating treatment plans with patients, carry out agreed-upon clinical procedures, such as mending teeth affected by decay and treating gum disease.
- Maintain current dental records for patients.
- Manage funds, oversee personnel hiring and training, maintain stocked supplies of equipment, and market services to potential clients.
- Some dental offices hire practice managers to free up dentists’ time for clinical responsibilities.
Salary
If you want to work in the NHS as a newly licensed dentist, you must complete a year of foundation training. During this time, you will receive a salary of £33,720.
The majority of dentists balance their NHS and private employment as independent contractors in general practice. Although dental practices make a wide range of profits, in general, you can anticipate earning between £50,000 and £110,000. A fully private dentist may earn more than £140,000.
You might choose to enroll in dental core training instead of working in general practice and earn between £39,467 and £50,017 per year. There are also higher pay rates for work done on the weekends, at night, and when on call.
As a salaried dentist working for the NHS, particularly in community dental services, you may anticipate earning between £43,019 and £92,013 per year.
Dental specialists’ base salary in NHS trust hospitals ranges from £84,559 to £114,003, depending on the number of years spent at the consultant grade.
There are more salaried roles in both the military and industry.
The salary information provided by Health Careers. Figures should only be used as a guide.
Working Hours
You can choose your own hours as a GDP, which may include weekends and evening sessions in order to suit patients, and you can work for yourself. There are opportunities for career breaks and part-time work.
Working in a hospital might occasionally involve short-term contracts, erratic hours, and on-call duties. For self-employment and freelance work in hospital dentistry, only consultants are qualified.
How to Get Ready
There are available vacancies in both urban and rural areas of the nation.
While caring for patients, you will be required to wear surgical gloves in addition to safety glasses in order to protect yourself and reduce the likelihood of cross-infection.
Eye strain, neck discomfort, and back pain could result from the task. You could experience a lot of stress when managing the suffering and anxiety of patients or working under pressure. The job can, however, also be very satisfying when you see patients happy.