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Dentist : Salary and conditions

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  1. Job description
  2. Salary and conditions
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Case studies

  • Current (January 2010) salary as a vocational dental practitioner (VDP), which is the year of work following qualification from university: £29,800.
  • Most NHS dentists are self-employed contractors and earn between £60,000 and £110,000.
  • Some dentists choose to work in salaried posts in the Community Dental Service (CDS), known in England as the Salaried Primary Dental Care Service (SPDCS). Salaries in the CDS/SPDCS range from £37,344 to £79,875. Other salaried posts exist in the armed forces and in corporate practices.
  • In trust hospitals of the National Health Service (NHS), dentists are paid according to nationally defined scales. Salaries at consultant level range from £74,504 to £176,242.
  • Earnings may be higher in private practice, where income is determined by the amount and type of work done.
  • Most general dental practitioners (GDPs) are self-employed, and can arrange their own working hours, which may include weekend or evening sessions to suit patients. Career breaks and part-time work opportunities are available.
  • Hospital dentists tend to be employed on short-term contracts (6-12 months) and work more irregular hours, with on-call responsibilities. Self-employment and freelance work in hospital dentistry are only possible for consultants.
  • Jobs are available throughout the country, in both urban and rural areas.
  • Data from universities indicates that up to 63% of dental students are women and it has been predicted that over 50% of practising dentists will be female by 2020.
  • When treating patients, dentists wear a tunic, surgical gloves and safety glasses for protection and to reduce the risk of cross infection.
  • All dentists must abide by a professional code of ethics. They may experience high stress levels when handling patients' pain and anxiety and/or as a result of working within strict time schedules.
  • If you work in a hospital, long days and nights on duty may limit your social life, and short contracts of employment may mean repeated job search and relocation.
  • Travel within a working day and overnight absence from home are uncommon in general practice, but may occasionally be necessary for hospital dentists.
  • Opportunities for overseas travel may arise to attend international conferences.
 
AGCAS
Written by Lucie Johnston, University of Stirling
Date: 
December 2009
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