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This five-year course is the first step to qualifying to practice as a dentist. You need to have an aptitude for science and good people skills. The course involves studying anatomy, physiology and biochemistry alongside placements to learn practical skills, such as taking a medical history, dental examinations and deciding on appropriate treatment, orthodontics - straightening teeth using braces... - and using local anaesthetic.
Here's a guide to what to expect from the application process - also check individual university entry requirements, as these may differ.
January application
October application
Personal statement
Portfolio
Interview
Entry test
Work experience
Audition
Personal statement advice
Future dentist? You'll need great grades and a spot-on personal statement to catch the eye of a dental school and nab an interview for a place on one of these demanding courses.
Dentistry qualifications are a savvy choice if a solid and stable career is top of your priority list. It's one of the very few degrees out there able to rival medicine for the strongest employability prospects and starting salary around. The recession appears to have barely touched early career options available for new dentists - almost all graduates get dental jobs on leaving their courses.
Studying for a degree in dentistry will give you skills in basic anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, in investigation and diagnosis of medical conditions and in the principles, practice and ethics of dental care. You will also develop useful transferable skills such as good communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Most dentists work in dental practices, but you can also find them in hospitals, the Armed Forces, or working for universities.
