Overview
Once you have completed your mandatory GDC registration, the next step is to secure a job. For most overseas-qualified dentists, this is likely to be a role in a general dental practice. General dental practice forms the cornerstone of oral healthcare in the UK, where dentists provide comprehensive services to individuals and families.
Within general dental practice, there are two ways to provide dental treatment. NHS funded treatment (where the NHS pays for a proportion of, or all the treatment provided), and privately funded treatment (where the individual patient pays for the treatment either from their own funds or as part of a finance scheme). In many practices both treatment routes will be options available to patients. Most general dental practitioners in the UK are self-employed, working as associates, in practices they do not own. If you choose to pursue practice ownership, we offer support to our members who are looking to take this step.
This section focusses on working in general dental practice as the most likely career path, but there are other opportunities within UK dentistry. You can find information about other settings, such as community or hospital dentistry, in our career hub.
