Dentist

Dentists are skilled professionals who diagnose and treat problems that affect the teeth, mouth and gums. Tooth decay and mouth disease can be extremely painful and hamper everyday activities such as eating and talking. It is part of a dentist’s role to prevent such problems by educating people in good oral health. When things do go wrong, dentists choose the best treatment from a variety of sophisticated techniques.

Most dentists work in a practice. They often build long-term relationships with patients, caring for people’s teeth over many years.

Their daily activities may include:

giving patients information on how to look after their teeth and mouth
examining patients’ teeth
diagnosing conditions
carrying out treatments such as drilling decayed parts of teeth and filling cavities or restoring teeth by fitting a crown or a bridge
scaling and polishing teeth (though this is often done by a dental hygienist)
keeping records for each patient
managing staff in the practice
managing the practice budget and keeping stock up to date.

Some dentists work in hospitals, carrying out specialised work, such as oral surgery. Others practise as community dentists, caring for patients with special needs, including elderly and housebound people and patients with mental or physical disabilities.

Dentists use a variety of specialised tools, such as forceps and drills. They often take x-rays and apply local anaesthetic. Most use computer databases for patient records and accounts.

Dentists in a practice may lead a team, which may include dental hygienists, dental nurses, dental therapists and reception or administrative staff. Those in hospitals work alongside dental nurses, dental technicians and other medical colleagues.

Hours and environment

Dentists working in a practice have some flexibility to choose their working hours. Most practices offer appointments on weekdays and Saturday mornings, as well as an out-of-hours service for emergencies.

Hospital-based dentists may work longer hours. They are likely to share an on-call rota for evening and weekend work.

It is possible to work part time.

The work is carried out in dental surgeries and clinics. Hospital dentists carry out some work in operating theatres.

Dentists wear protective clothing including white coats, surgical gloves and face masks or safety glasses.

Community-based dentists may travel to care for patients in their own homes or in schools, residential homes or mobile clinics.

Salary and other benefits

These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.

Salaries for trainee dentists in general practice may start from around €39,000 a year.
Dentists in general practice may earn €100,000 or more.
Hospital-based dentists who reach consultant level may earn more than €150,000.

Dentists in general practice receive set fees for each HSE treatment they carry out. Most dentists do a mixture of HSE and private work.

Skills and personal qualities

A dentist should have:

a sound knowledge of science subjects
a flair for communicating and building a good rapport with all kinds of people
the ability to concentrate for long periods
good eyesight
manual dexterity
a sympathetic manner, to put anxious patients at ease
IT skills
management and business skills, for building and running a practice.

Interests

It is important to:

be interested in people and concerned for their welfare
have a strong interest in science.

Entry Routes:

A degree in dentistry is required in order to register with the Dental Council of Ireland. Three Irish universities on the island of Ireland offer programmes: Trinity College Dublin offers Dental Science, University College Cork offers Dentistry and Queens University in Belfast also run a degree course in Dentistry.

There are sixteen dental schools in the UK of which two are graduate entry. There are also two postgraduate entry dental institutes.