The journey of an overseas dentist in the UK

Registering as a dentist and working in the UK is a goal that many overseas dentists aspire to. Overseas-qualified dentists need to either pass a registration exam to be able to practise dentistry in the UK or, under certain circumstances, they can register through assessment. Additionally, temporary registration gives overseas-qualified dentists the opportunity to practise dentistry under supervision for up to five years. However, these routes are difficult and it could take a few years before a dentist is registered. These dentists have the academic route as well, but similar to the registration route, it is not easy and very competitive and expensive. Brexit and COVID-19 had their impact on the journey of these dentists and altered their plans to pursue their career in the UK. To sum up, the current system could probably be modified to be more in line with that of neighbouring countries. To my colleagues who have graduated from the UK or EU and are registered with the General Dental Council, please be aware that it is not an easy journey, requires a lot of money and time, and is an incredibly stressful time.