Associate Dentist Jobs

Associate Dentist Job Role

Almost all dentists will have their specific goals and clinical interest, but there are several ways to ensure you are utilizing the best available opportunities. By working as an associate dentist, you are exploring one of the best career goals and clinical interest of a dentist.

Below, you will understand the role of a dentist, what it entails and the benefits associated with working in an associate dentist position.

Major Role considerations:

Patients: Some patients are challenging, but the patients are the ones who make your day to day activities lively and exciting. The patients give a professional life of joy to you. Being able to make a significant difference in the quality of life of your patients is often the greatest achievement of any dentist in the UK. Offering the best to your patients brings fulfilment, inner joy and admiration.

Less Pressure: Practicing private or ownership is a dream most dentist harbour but working as an associate also has its benefits. As an associate, you don’t have to encounter too much pressure associated with running a business. Also, you are free from stresses related to marketing, finances, compliance and staffing. Associate dentist position puts less pressure on a dentist.

CPD: Most times, principals or managers of the organization facilitate skill development. Many groups also offer training on core topics at a good discount or even for free. You can always explore this benefit to further your clinical interest.

Postgraduate Qualification: As an associate dentist, there is always an opportunity to further your education. While pursuing your postgraduate degree, there is the freedom to re-negotiate contracts, and with excellent negotiation, you can have more time for your academic studies.

Every dental environment is different:

The above example is the standard in most settings, but this may also depend on where you work, what areas interest you most and your expectations as a person.

For a dentist, working environment varies according to the size of practice; it can be a single practitioner or several associates. Dentists can also work in private and NHS within corporate groups or independent practice.

To become an associate dentist; some processes are required. Below are some examples of how the dental environment may differ:

NHS: Here, you will likely see more patients, especially if you provide general NHS dentistry. There would also be more check-ups, more essential dentistry like dentures, fillings and crowns.

In the NHS environment, you will be required to meet certain UDAs within the year. In certain parts of the UK, the UDA is even higher, and if you enjoy seeing a lot of people, this is a dream come true for you.

In an environment like the NHS, the major challenge is time. You will be seeing patients in a short appointment time. Although you can adjust, the time constraint of the NHS target UDA won’t always make it very possible at all times. Working in this environment offer a broad array of experience, interest and knowledge.

Special Interests: As a dental associate, you may want to focus on specific treatments over others.

For instance, you can choose to primarily provide GDP orthodontics, dental implants, restorative dentistry, or restrict your practice to one area entirely.

Depending on your area of interest, the influx of patients may reduce or increase. Offering GDP orthodontics might mean you see all adult patients while dental implantology means seeing a reduced number of patients each day.

PLVE: The Performer’s List Validation by Experience is a process in which a performer’s number is awarded to non-UK/EEA dental graduates. These graduates gained their experience and training in their home country, and they are qualified to work in the NHS in the United Kingdom.

The professionals in this category must hold a full GDC registration and apply directly to practices that hold NHS contract. When they get a job offer, they can apply to the relevant bodies in that area they got the job, and the authority offers them Performer number via the established PLVE process.

This route is for oversees graduates who wish to practice in the UK.

The EEA Dentists: Good number of dentist in the UK is from EEA. In the UK, many EEA dentist work in the NHS and their numbers are increasing by the day. Any dentist who is from the EEA and with the required primary qualification specified in the relevant EC directive can register with the GDC and work in the UK. For most people from the EEA, the NHS offers some of the best career goals and path.