Specialisation

Which specialties has been established?

¨ Oral Surgery (the academic speciality)

¨ Surgical Dentistry

¨ Dental Public Health

¨ Orthodontics

¨ Paediatric Dentistry

¨ Restorative Dentistry

¨ Endodontics

¨ Periodontics

¨ Prosthodontics

 

Lists will also be established in the specialties of Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Microbiology and Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology. Details for these specialties are still to be agreed. The specialist list for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is held by the GMC, due to the requirement for an undergraduate medical degree and is covered by separate legislation.

 

How do I get on the specialist list?

The only way to get on the specialist list is to follow the appropriate training pathway. A transitional period will allow dentists currently holding NHS consultant contracts and with suitable training and experience to apply for mediated entry onto a specialist list.

 

What is specialist training?

After qualification a minimum period of two years structured training is required to gain a broad experience in several disciplines of dentistry. General Professional Training gives such experience, but is not the only way of obtaining this.

 

This basic training leads onto to the Diploma of Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (MFDS), organised by the Royal Colleges. Once this has been gained candidates can apply for a place on a specialist training programme. Some equivalent qualifications are also accepted.

 

For more information on the structure of specialist training see ‘A Guide to Specialist Registrar Training’ published by the NHS. Training lasts 3—5 years, depending on the specialty.

http://www.doh.gov.uk/medicaltrainingintheuk/

 

 

Once the programme of specialist training has been successfully completed a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) is awarded. This enables entry onto the specialist list in the chosen specialty.

 

The General Dental Council established specialist titles for the branches in dentistry in 1992. Since then the GDC has established specialist lists, which dentists must be on in order to call themselves a specialist.

Career Pathways