- Becoming a fully qualified dentist typically takes between 5 and 8 years, depending on the country and educational path.
- It may take longer if you want to specialise in a particular area of dentistry, such as orthodontics or oral surgery.
- Each country has its own entrance exams, training programmes, and licensing requirements.
Looking for a healthcare career that’s hands-on and gives you independence? Becoming a dentist might be your path. Dentistry is rewarding — you’ll help people feel more confident about their smiles, build healthy dental habits, and, depending on your speciality, do even more.
Many dentists choose to set up their private clinics to have more control over their schedules. So if you like the idea of working for yourself, that’s another reason to consider dentistry.
Learn more about becoming a dentist below, including what specialities there are, where to study, and how long it takes around the world.
What does a dentist do?
Dentists take care of their patients’ teeth, mouth, and gums through procedures like cleanings, fillings, root canals, and more. Some run their own private practices, while others work in hospitals, public health, research, or education. Tasks of a dentist include:
- Checking whether teeth, gums, and mouth are healthy
- Filling cavities and repairing damaged teeth
- Diagnosing health problems and responding with appropriate procedures, like root canals and tooth extractions
- Taking dental X-rays
- Educating patients on proper oral hygiene and preventive care
- Referring patients to specialists like orthodontists or oral surgeons when needed
- Managing patient records and treatment plans
Depending on their training, some dentists specialise in areas like orthodontics (correcting teeth), periodontics (gum care), or paediatric dentistry (dentistry for children).
To get a better idea, head to our portals to explore everything from undergraduate-level Dentistry programmes to Master’s degrees in Dentistry offering specialisation.
Is becoming a dentist the right path for you?
Dentists combine people skills, technical knowledge, and hands-on work on a daily basis. If you have the following skills, dentistry might be a great fit for you:
- Patience, focus, and attention to detail
- Strong interest in science and healthcare, especially teeth and mouth care
- Excellent communication skills
- Manual dexterity (the ability to use your hands well)
- Problem-solving skills
- Knowledge of how to use different dental tools and technology
- Empathy to help patients feel at ease, especially if they’re anxious about treatments
- Organisational skills to keep track of appointments, patient records, and treatments
What degree do you need to become a dentist?
To become a dentist, you’ll need a Dental degree that covers subjects like anatomy, pathology, and pharmacology, plus plenty of hands-on clinical training with real patients.
In some countries, you can jump straight into an undergraduate-level Dentistry programme, while in others, you’ll first need to complete a Bachelor’s degree before moving on to dental school.
Find more about undergraduate and graduate-level Dentistry programmes below:
Bachelor-level dental programmes | Graduate-level dental programmes | |
Common degree names | BDS, BDent | DDS, DMD |
Where is it common? | UK, Australia, and many European countries | US, Canada |
Typical duration | 5-6 years | 4 years |
Application requirements | Strong grades in Biology and Chemistry A Levels (or equivalent exams) In some cases, entrance exams like UCAT or BMAT | A Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Chemistry, or another field covering dental school pre-requisite courses Dental Admission Test (DAT) |
Note that some countries (like Australia) offer both graduate and undergraduate programmes. In these cases, you can either start Dentistry right after secondary school or, if you already have a Bachelor’s degree, take a graduate-entry program that’s shorter but still covers all the essentials.
What entrance exams are required for dental school?
Most dental schools (both undergraduate and graduate-entry) will ask you to take an entrance exam. These tests check your science knowledge and problem-solving skills. Here are the exam names in different countries:
- UK: UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test)
- US and Canada: DAT (Dental Admission Test)
- Australia and New Zealand: UCAT ANZ (University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand) for undergraduate entry, GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test) for graduate entry
- Italy: IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test)
Training and experience after graduation
Before you can open your own practice or work full-time in a hospital, you’ll need to build up experience, pass the required exams, and get your license. This makes sure you have the skills and knowledge to treat patients safely and confidently.
What mandatory training is there?
Dental schools often include training as part of your degree or ask you to complete mandatory internships afterwards. For example:
- In Italy, dental school takes 6 years, and your final year is spent doing an internship.
- In the UK, you study for 5 years and graduate. After that, you move on to a one-year, paid foundation training programme, working under supervision while treating real patients.
Once you’ve completed dental school and done your compulsory training, you become a general dentist. If you want to specialise, you’ll need extra postgraduate training. Depending on your specialisation and where you study, this can take anywhere from 2 to 6 more years.
Professional qualification exams
After studies and training, you must pass exams and register with professional bodies to practise legally. Here’s how it works in different countries:
Country | Exam name | Registration body (once you’ve passed the exam) |
UK | No exams required for UK graduates. If you want to practise in the UK but have a degree from elsewhere, you’ll need to pass Overseas Registration Examinations (ORE) | General Dental Council (GDC) |
US | National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) and regional clinical board exams | State dental boards |
Canada | National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) and OSCE exams | Provincial regulatory bodies |
Australia | Australian Dental Council (ADC) exams | Dental Board of Australia |
Italy | National licensing exam (Esame di Stato) | Ordine dei Medici Chirurghi e degli Odontoiatri (the National Dental and Medical Professional Body) |
If you studied dentistry in one country and want to work in another, you may need to take extra exams to show your skills meet local standards. You’ll also often need to prove you can speak the local language well enough to chat with patients and colleagues.
How is becoming a dentist different around the world?
Here’s everything you need to know about becoming a dentist around the world, all in one place:
Country | Education | Training | Exam & registration | Average duration |
UK | Bachelor-level Dentistry degree (BDS – 5 years) | 1-year Dental Foundation Training (paid, supervised) | No extra exams for UK grads; overseas grads take ORE. Register with the General Dental Council (GDC) | 6 years |
US | Bachelor’s degree (4 years) + Dental school (DDS/DMD – 4 years) | Optional residencies for specialisation (2–6 years) | NBDE + regional clinical board exams Register with the State Dental Board | 8 years |
Canada | Bachelor’s degree (4 years) + Dental school (DDS/DMD – 4 years) | Optional residencies for specialisation (2–6 years) | NDEB written + OSCE exams; register with provincial regulatory body | 8 years |
Australia | Bachelor-level Dentistry degree (5 years) OR Postgraduate entry (4 years after a Bachelor’s) | 1-year internship in public health or supervised practice | Australian Dental Council (ADC) exams (for overseas-trained); register with the Dental Board of Australia | 5-6 years |
Italy | Integrated Dentistry degree (6 years) | Final year internship built into the degree | National licensing exam (Esame di Stato) Register with Ordine dei Medici Chirurghi e degli Odontoiatri (the National Dental and Medical Professional Body) | 6 years |
Final tips to succeed in your dentistry journey
Find mentors and chat with practising dentists to get real-world insights and advice. Bonus points if they’ve studied in the universities you’re thinking of applying to! This way, you can get tips on courses, clinical placements, and what to expect.
Check out Dentistry degrees all over the world on Bachelorsportal. If you’ve already completed your undergraduate degree, head to Mastersportal for Dentistry specialisations or graduate entry programmes.
FAQs
1. How long does it take to become a dentist?
Becoming a dentist usually takes 5 to 8 years, depending on the country. To give you an idea, full-time Bachelor’s programmes in Dentistry take 5 years on our portals.
2. How difficult is it to become a dentist?
Besides advanced-level biology, anatomy, and chemistry, you’ll cover hands-on skills in dental school, which may be challenging.
3. Is dentistry a good career choice?
Dentistry is known for offering a high salary, job security, and work-life balance. Many dentists also enjoy the flexibility of running their own practice.
