The Datum Report

Occupation 2253 · Professional occupations

Dental practitioners

Dental practitioners diagnose dental and oral diseases, injuries and disorders, prescribe and administer treatment, recommend preventative action and, where necessary, refer the patient to a specialist.

How people enter it

Entrants require an approved university degree and must have completed a period of postgraduate vocational training. Graduate entry to dental school is sometimes possible. Registration with the General Dental Council is a pre-requisite to practise. Specialist fields require further study and training.

What the work involves

• examines patient’s teeth, gums and jaw, using dental and x-ray equipment, diagnoses dental conditions
• assesses and recommends treatment options to patients
• administers local anaesthetics
• carries out clinical treatments, restores teeth affected by decay etc., treats gum disease and other disorders
• constructs and fits braces, inlays, dentures and other appliances
• supervises patient’s progress and advises on preventative action
• educates patients on oral health care
• refers patient to specialist, where necessary
• maintains patients’ dental health records
• prepares and delivers lectures, undertakes research, and conducts and participates in clinical trials

Also called

Dental surgeon · Dentist · Orthodontist · Periodontist

What it pays

Every regional figure

ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.

Common questions

Classified alongside this

Medical radiographers · Optometrists · Other health professionals n.e.c. · Paramedics · Pharmacists · Podiatrists