Dentistry at Bristol
Bristol Dental School is committed to the highest standards in education. Our courses accredited by the General Dental Council (GDC) and cover all aspects of the GDC guidance for preparing to practise as a dentist. You will gain a thorough understanding of relevant biomedical sciences and have the opportunity to begin treating patients from your second year.
You will experience technology-enhanced learning and best educational practice while on this course. Our spiral curriculum lets you progressively learn the knowledge and skills that are essential to your practice as a dentist. You will revisit topics at a higher level of understanding and application as the course progresses so that they become embedded in your practice.
You will hone your skills in primary care and community settings. Clinical teaching commences in the Bristol Dental School and later you will gain community-based teaching experience. You will develop teamwork skills and gain vital insights into work in practice by training alongside hygienists and therapists.
Bristol Dental School is a diverse, welcoming environment and has been awarded a silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of its ongoing commitment to gender equality.
Our one-year Gateway to Dentistry course is a Widening Participation initiative for UK students who have the potential to become dentists but do not meet the academic entry criteria to apply directly to our BDS Dentistry.
Career prospects
After foundation training you may choose to practise in the NHS or in a community-based dental clinic. Alternatively, you may wish to work privately or in a dental hospital where you can specialise in areas such as oral surgery, orthodontics, or restorative or paediatric dentistry.
BDS graduates will also have the opportunity to serve in all branches of the armed forces.
You may progress to further study for postgraduate qualifications, enabling you to undertake research at universities or teach in a dental school.
Within 15 months of graduating, 90% of surveyed BDS Dentistry students were in work or further study (Graduate Outcomes survey, 2017/18 graduates).What our students do after graduating
Course structure
There is a continuous core of clinical activity from years one to five, with supporting knowledge and scientific methods integrated throughout.
In year one you will study the foundations of dentistry, culminating in a student-led conference. You will also participate in peer-work clinical sessions, underpinned by relevant health and social sciences teaching.
In your second year you will practise dental skills in the laboratory and learn about common oral diseases to support your first adult patient treatments in the second term. Radiography and paediatric clinical observations will expand your dental experience, and you will acquire understanding of broader aspects of human health and disease.
In year three you will provide a broad range of general dental treatment for your patients. You will continue to study prevention and treatment of dental disease, restorative and paediatric dentistry, orthodontics, and oral surgery.
You will have the option of intercalating for a year to follow a specific interest, engage with research and expand your career opportunities.
In years four and five you will see patients across the disciplines, practising whole-patient care; you will observe expert clinicians working in their specialities in consultant clinics; and you can undertake a community project of your choice in Bristol or further afield.
Diverse experiences
As a dental student at Bristol, you will benefit from our state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities.
On-campus teaching and clinical placements in Primary Care clinics and local hospitals will give you experience of dental care across a variety of settings.