Choosing a Course

Standards are high and competition is stiff to get into dentistry, but that doesn't mean you should apply to anywhere you think might take you. As a safety net for the many who fail to get in, Ucas insists that no more than four of the six choices on your form should be to schools of dentistry or medicine. The others can be used to bid for alternative courses, without prejudicing your perceived commitment to dentistry.

However, when sizing up the dental options, consider the course carefully. Some courses now introduce you to patients almost at the very beginning, while in others you are learning theory for the first two (pre-clinical) years before being let loose on live mouths. If you have plans for the intercalated year, consider the wider institution. If the school is part of a sizeable university, then the chances are that you'll find a science course to interest you and that will add to your education. The options elsewhere can be limited, but just as useful if they coincide with your own interests. Elective periods - which offer the opportunity to extend experience and study elsewhere, either at home or abroad - can also offer invaluable experience, and should be investigated.

Look at the availability and state of the library, IT, laboratory and clinical facilities. Are these easy and freely accessible? As learning methods become more varied, the need to queue for a free PC can he a deeply frustrating experience.

And try to get a feel for the overall student experience. Does the school have a supportive environment? Dentistry can be a long, exhausting course and you'll want to feel that there is emotional and practical backing, particularly if you encounter personal or academic difficulties.

Specialisations generally begin after you qualify. Those who wish to concentrate on areas such as orthodontics, restorative dentistry, endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics and paediatric dentistry can do so under training and qualifications schemes run by the General Dental Council. But if you want to go on to postgraduate study, that will be organised by the local postgraduate institute. Investigate the school's links to postgraduate vocational training - the obligatory learning you will have to take on once you start in your practice will, more than likely, start from there. It may seem like a long way away, but it'll soon come around.