All dentists on the UK Dentists Register are have been required since January 2002 to carry out continuous dental training, known as continuing professional development. Since 2008, other dental professionals have also been required to undertake CPD.

What is continuing professional development?

Continuing professional development is now essential in many areas of medicine, as well as dentistry. It is further training, which allows dentists to develop new skills, learn about new treatments and technology and ensure that they are up to date with procedures and protocol.

Continuing professional development involves a series of short courses which cover a range of different topics and subjects. Many of the sessions and workshops are practical, others take the form of talks or lectures and some are delivered online via computer aided learning (CAL). CPD can also take the form of private study.

CPD requirements

According to the General Dental Council (the GDC), dentists must complete and keep record of at least 250 hours of continuing professional development over a five year period. At least 75 hours of this total must be verifiable CPD, which means that the activity must have:

●      Clear objectives and aims

●      Clear educational aim

●      Documentary proof

●      Quality regulations

The remainder can be general CPD, which may include:

●      Distance learning

●      Courses

●      Lectures

●      Background research

●      Reading journals

●      Multimedia learning

●      Vocational learning

●      Clinical audit

●      Peer review

What subjects should CPD cover?

CPD can cover a range of different subjects, however, the GDC recommends spending a minimum of 10 hours on medical emergencies and a minimum of 5 hours on disinfection and decontamination and radiography and radiation protection. Other key areas include handling complaints, infection control and legal and ethical issues.

When does CPD start?

A dentist should start undertaking CPD on the 1^st January in the year after they registered, from this date there is a 5 year cycle, within which they must complete their 250 hours.

Getting onto a dental course

Dentistry is a competitive degree course so it is important to get good grades at both GCSE and A level and to make yourself stand out in your UCAS form. Most universities ask for at least 2 A grades at A-level in Science-based subjects, usually Chemistry and Biology are required subjects at A level. Some universities offer longer courses, which offer a pre-dental year, these are six years in length and are open to candidates without relevant A-level subjects.

Many of the candidates applying for places on a dental degree programme will either have the required grades or received the required predicted grades, so it is important that your UCAS form highlights other things you can offer the university, for example, if you hold a position of responsibility, if you play sport or you have a talent for drama or music.

If you have work experience or you have volunteered for charities, this will also show that you have a passion for the career and that you have a caring, compassionate nature, which is essential for a career in dentistry.

Life as a dental student

Life as a dental student is not easy, in comparison to most other students, you will have a lot more work to do in your first year and you will probably spend a lot more time in class than some of your friends. Dentistry and medicine are the most intensive courses and they require a lot of time and commitment from day one. In your first year, you will probably spend most of your time focusing on academic study and theory and as your course progresses, you will spend more time developing practical skills and experiencing on the job dental training during clinical placements. You will usually be required to complete written assignments, practical assignments and examinations throughout the year in order to progress to the next year.

Dentistry is an intensive course but you will still have plenty of time for enjoying university life. Try to make the most of your time at university by getting involved in sports teams, clubs and societies and making the most of the student social scene. It is important to find a good balance between work and your social life to ensure you get the best out of your studies as well as your general university life.

Dentistry training takes place at various stages of a dentist’s career, starting with the undergraduate degree programme:

Dentistry degree

In order to train as a dentist, you must first get on to an undergraduate course in dentistry, competition for places is fierce so you will need good grades. Most dentistry degree programmes last for five years but there are fast-track courses available for people who already have a degree in a related subject.

Most universities ask for a minimum of one or two A grades at A level and candidates are required to have A levels in Biology and Chemistry. Entry requirements vary according to the institution, so it is important to contact the university you want to go to in order to find out what grades you need. As the competition for places is tough, you will need to spend some time on your UCAS form, selling yourself and highlighting why you should get a place over someone else. This should include relevant work experience, any talents or interests you have, such as music or sport and any positions of responsibility you have held in the past.

The dentistry course involves a combination of practical and academic work. You will learn about the theory of dentistry and develop practical skills through workshops and clinical placements. You will be required to sit examinations and complete written and practical assignments.

Further dental training

Once you have graduated, you will start foundation training, which usually lasts one year. After this period of time, if you want to specialise in a particular area of dentistry, you will start your specialist training, which usually takes three years. All dentists are required to complete continuing professional development, further learning and training, which helps dentists to learn new skills, learn about new treatments, keep up to date with new learning methods and procedures and policies. Dentists are required to complete 250 hours of CPD over a five year period.

Information about CPD and accredited courses is provided by the GDC, dentists can choose which activities and courses they want to do and they can also use private study as part of their CPD. Courses are often advertised in dental magazines and on the GDC website, details may also be sent directly to dentists at their workplace.

There are many dental courses on offer in the UK that cater for undergraduates, postgraduates and qualified dentists.

Undergraduate dental courses

Many UK universities offer dental courses and dentistry is one of the most competitive courses. Dentistry is becoming an increasingly popular career choice and the number of applications for dentistry degrees is increasing year on year. Standard dentistry degree courses are five years long, however applicants who do not have the required A level subjects may be able to undertake a six year course which includes a pre-dental foundation year. There are also fast-track courses available for candidates who already have a degree in a relevant subject.

In order to get onto a dental degree programme, it is usually necessary to have good GCSE grades and at least 1 or 2 A grades at A level, most universities ask for Biology and Chemistry at A-level. Universities will also consider equivalent qualifications, such as Scottish Highers and the International Baccalaureate.

Currently, five year dental courses are available at the University of Birmingham, Cardiff University, University of Bristol, University of Glasgow, University of Dundee, University of Manchester, Newcastle University, University of Sheffield, Queen Mary’s, London and Queen’s University, Belfast.

Postgraduate dental courses

Dentists must complete postgraduate study after they have completed their Bachelor’s degree in Dentistry; postgraduate dental training involves foundation training and specialist training. Dental foundation training usually lasts one year (full-time) and takes place in a primary care setting. Dentists who want to specialise in a certain area of dentistry (such as orthodontics or endodontics, for example) then go on to start specialist training. Dentists who want to become oral and maxillofacial surgeons must complete a medical degree before or during the dental training programme.

Training for qualified dentists

Dentists attend training days, workshops and courses throughout their careers as part of continuous professional development and as a means of making sure that they can offer clients the latest treatments, stay up to date with protocol and procedure and use new equipment and technology. Courses take place across the UK and usually dentists register in advance for courses that they are interested in attending. Courses for dentists are usually advertised in dental magazines and on dental websites, information is also sent directly to hospitals and surgeries.

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