BDS Dentistry (first-year entry) / Careers

Almost invariably, dental graduates apply for one year Dental Foundation 1 training posts when they graduate. These are salaried posts in NHS general dental practices, comprising four/five days per week of clinical work and 30 days of professional study over the year.

Each DFY1 is mentored by a Dental Trainer in the same practice. All training practices are inspected to ensure they are of a required standard.

Many graduates decide to specialise in a particular branch of dentistry such as orthodontics or endodontics. Specialist training courses are available in all dental specialties and are highly competitive.

Some general experience in dentistry is required prior to entry to a specialist training programme, as is either the MJDF or MFDS examinations run by the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of England, Edinburgh or Ireland and Glasgow.

We offer careers advice throughout the BDS course, with much of this help concentrated in Year 5 as graduation approaches. Specific help and guidance is given in your final year to help you prepare for the Foundation Dentistry selection process, which is done on a national basis.