Qualifications to be a dentist

Errata

M.Johnson wrote: »

I am hearing about some short cuts, if you can do the degree abroad or even these days home learning then you have to find a dentist to do the Apprenticeship with and if you do not mind moving abroad then you can get the qualifications easier.

There are always easier ways.

I hear more and more it is possible to qualify abroad a lot easier and cheaper. Depending on which country though and if the qualification is recognised in the UK and other countries.

There are some practicing dentists in this country that have practised for years and they qualified in Africa or Asia or somewhere decades ago.

Home learning :eek:

PlutoinCapricorn

There are many companies that will take advantage of people who want the high salaries that dentists command.

My friend heard about a dental training place in Prague: they just spoke to her on the phone and immediately offered her a place. Luckily she asked around, and learned that the qualification would be worthless.

A place that will take you without a gruelling interview is probably not worth anything.

brook2jack

Because of the problems with a lack of training places this year it has been announced UK graduates will have priority for foundation year training places. This was because this year over 80 uk dental graduates could not get a foundation year training place, without which they cannot work in the nhs and no one will take on a new graduate privately.

The dental school in Prague which teaches in English has a massive drop out rate for various reasons not the least of which is students struggle to pass the very academically rigorous exams. They then struggle to find a training place in the UK and this is going to get worse.

There are no easy short cuts to a career which is academically and personally very challenging (dentistry is, after air traffic controller, the most stressful job).

Added to that due to massive changes in nhs funding earnings have fallen by between 7 and 10% every year over the last couple of years and the earnings of young dentists are now very much less with the prospect of being able to buy a practice in the future much less your friend should be utterly dissuaded from thinking there is any quick and easy way to easy street. Nb the average dental student on a first degree will graduate with over £50,000 debt and rising those on a second degree will have even higher debt.

Poppie68

Errata wrote: »

Home learning :eek:

:rotfl::rotfl:My gast is well flabbered with that little gem..

PlutoinCapricorn

From brook2jack:

"There are no easy short cuts to a career which is academically and personally very challenging (dentistry is, after air traffic controller, the most stressful job)."

One dentist who used to treat me said that if he could have his time over again he would not be a dentist. I asked what else he would have done, and he said "anything"!

I earn much less than my dentist friend, but I can decide what I do and when I do it. I am in control of the work. Dental patients come first and she can't stop for a break. Sometimes she has no time for lunch.

There is a dentist called Toothsmith who posts on the Health board: perhaps asking there will get a reply from him.

Errata

Poppie68 wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl:My gast is well flabbered with that little gem..

I had a picture in my mind of the home learners practising on the dog!:D

Poppie68

Errata wrote: »

I had a picture in my mind of the home learners practising on the dog!:D

Beggers belief that someone would even think it's possible.:shocked:
I'm just hoping the OP is not the dentist wannabe, that is such a scary thought.

Toothsmith

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

There is a dentist called Toothsmith who posts on the Health board: perhaps asking there will get a reply from him.

I would echo everything Brook has said.