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Training & Development

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Foundation Dentist

General Dental Practitioner

Dental Core Training

General Dental Practitioner

Community Dental Officer

Senior Dental Officer

Speciality Training

Specialist Dentist

Consultant

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Dental Core TrainingOverview Dental Core Training (DCT) usually follows on from the 1st year of Dental Foundation Training (DFT). DCT is that period of postgraduate development which extends from the end of Dental Foundation Training (DFT)/ Dental Vocational Training (VT) to the start of specialty training, specialist practice, generalist practice or many other possible career options. As such, it is a training period that has multiple endpoints and a varied duration of from one to three years. It should be noted that there is no statutory or contractual requirement for any dental graduate to undertake DCT. It is, however, seen by many recent dental graduates as being an extremely valuable training and education experience that helps clarify their own professional career intentions Dental Core Training will allow trainees to:

• Experience work and training in a different setting compared to DFT/VT
• Work in a supportive environment where they are adequately supervised, enabling them to learn through service delivery whilst ensuring that patients are not put at risk
• Practise within their own level of competence and to be provided with appropriate supervision and feedback to reach higher levels of competence in existing skills and into acquiring new skills
• Learn from many different supervisors in different settings
• Learn to manage patients referred from Primary Care
  • Patients with complex dental conditions.
  • Patients with complex medical conditions.
  • Patients with complex mental health / psychiatric conditions
  • Patients with both complex medical and dental conditions
• Become part of a large multidisciplinary team
• Consolidate knowledge of clinical and organisational governance including audit
• Learn to communicate with a wide variety of different healthcare workers
• Work with experts in their field
• Participate in local learning opportunities e.g. lectures, tutorials, regional study days etc.
• Develop leadership skills
• Study and take postgraduate exams
• Present at local/regional meetings
• Learn many new clinical skills
• Maintain a portfolio of learning development and formative assessment
• Develop their preference of career choice

Hear from colleagues currently undertaking DCT Hear from Jack, a year 1 Dental Core Trainee Hear from Lara, a year 3 Dental Core Trainee: Duration It can last for 3 years, but applicants can also train for just 1 or 2 years. After completion of DCT2, trainees are eligible to apply to enter Specialty Training. End Result Following on from this training, you can move into a General Practitioner, or a Community Officer role, alternatively you could continue your studies and choose a speciality for you to be your focus.

Speciality Registrar TrainingOverview If you have an interest in a specific aspect of dentistry, then you could look to becoming a specialist. There are 13 speciality options that provide a range of different opportunities. You can find a full list of the different specialities, and what they cover here. Duration It can last for 3-5 years, depending on the speciality. Learn more about speciality training End Result Following on from this training, you can move into a Specialist position which targets your specific area of expertise. With enough experience, you could move into a consultant role.

Dental Foundation TrainingOverview For most newly qualified dentists, Dental Foundation Training (DFT) in general dental practice is the next step. Dental Foundation Training means a relevant period of employment during which a dentist is employed under a contract of service by an approved Educational Supervisor (ES) to provide a wide range of dental care and treatment and to attend such study days as that contract provides, with the aims and objectives of enhancing clinical and administrative competence and promoting high standards through relevant postgraduate training. Dental Foundation Training is carried out in specially appointed Training Practices. Experienced general dental practitioners who have an ability to teach and help new dentists are appointed as ESs. They employ new dentists as in their Training Practice, and provide the Foundation Dentists (FDs) with a fully equipped surgery, a dental nurse, and patients. The new dentist works in the practice for a maximum of 35 hours per week. The Trainer must be available to provide help and advice, be it chairside or otherwise, and also has to provide a weekly tutorial lasting one hour, during normal working hours. Each FD has an on-line e-portfolio, which is used as an educational aid throughout the year. On a regular basis the FD records achievements and concerns, and describes and analyses events that have occurred recently. The ES works with the FD and the Portfolio to produce action plans and regular assessments of development. Hear from a General Dental Practitioner Tony is a General Dental Practitioner, hear what he has to say about working as a General Dental Practitioner.

General Dental PractitionerOverview You'll lead the dental team using the the skills and confidence gained through world-class training to diagnose and treat dental problems. You'll provide advice to patients and use high levels of manual dexterity to carry out complex surgical and dental procedures. Your training will lead to an excellent knowledge of human anatomy and oral disease while giving you the best clinical skills to help your patients. Most dentists work as general dental practitioners (GDPs), usually in a high street practice, providing dental care to the general public. You can largely choose where you work but you may need to be flexible with your working hours. You may practise either under the NHS or privately, or both. You could also work part time in hospitals and some go into clinical teaching. Being a dentist in a hospital usually means working in the following areas:

• offering consultant advice and treatment for cases referred to hospitals or for patients admitted to hospital as a result of trauma or disease
• dental care and treatment for patients in hospital for a long time
• dental care for patients in hospital for a shorter period where pain relief of treatment is needed as part of their general care
• treatment of out-patients

Working in a specialist dental hospital covers:

• oral and maxillofacial surgery
• oral surgery
• orthodontics
• paediatric dentistry
• restorative dentistry

You'll likely to see fewer patients than general dental practitioners, but treatment is usually more complex. You'll generally work as part of a team and have access to specialised knowledge and facilities.

General Dental PractitionerOverview You'll lead the dental team using the the skills and confidence gained through world-class training to diagnose and treat dental problems. You'll provide advice to patients and use high levels of manual dexterity to carry out complex surgical and dental procedures. Your training will lead to an excellent knowledge of human anatomy and oral disease while giving you the best clinical skills to help your patients. Most dentists work as general dental practitioners (GDPs), usually in a high street practice, providing dental care to the general public. You can largely choose where you work but you may need to be flexible with your working hours. You may practise either under the NHS or privately, or both. You could also work part time in hospitals and some go into clinical teaching. Being a dentist in a hospital usually means working in the following areas:

• offering consultant advice and treatment for cases referred to hospitals or for patients admitted to hospital as a result of trauma or disease
• dental care and treatment for patients in hospital for a long time
• dental care for patients in hospital for a shorter period where pain relief of treatment is needed as part of their general care
• treatment of out-patients

Working in a specialist dental hospital covers:

• oral and maxillofacial surgery
• oral surgery
• orthodontics
• paediatric dentistry
• restorative dentistry

You'll likely to see fewer patients than general dental practitioners, but treatment is usually more complex. You'll generally work as part of a team and have access to specialised knowledge and facilities.

Community Dental OfficerOverview Dental care is provided in community settings for patients who have difficulty getting treatment in their high street dental practice. You might be looking after young children who need special help, as well as elderly and people who are housebound or with severe physical disabilities or mental illness. This can be demanding and rewarding work. You might be able to balance this work managerial and research duties. You can also be involved in working with schools doing screening and in studies of oral health.