Dentistry

Dentistry is a clinical healthcare profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases and conditions affecting the teeth, mouth and surrounding structures. Dentists perform a wide range of procedures, from routine examinations and restorations to oral surgery, orthodontics and the management of complex dental diseases, and they play a central role in maintaining both the oral health and the overall wellbeing of their patients. It is a demanding and highly skilled profession that requires scientific knowledge, manual dexterity, communication skills and the ability to put patients at ease in what is often an anxiety-provoking clinical environment.

At Manchester, this five-year full-time programme provides the comprehensive scientific and clinical education required to register with the General Dental Council and practise as a dentist in the UK. You will study the biomedical sciences that underpin dental practice, including anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology and pathology, alongside the clinical disciplines of restorative dentistry, oral surgery, periodontology, orthodontics, paediatric dentistry and dental public health. Clinical training is central to the programme from the early years, and you will develop your practical skills through supervised patient care in Manchester's dental hospital and teaching clinics.

The typical entry tariff is 168 UCAS points.

Graduates register with the General Dental Council and undertake a period of dental foundation training before entering independent practice. Dentists work in NHS and private general dental practices, hospital dental services, community dentistry, the armed forces, academia and research. Many pursue specialist training in areas such as orthodontics, oral surgery, paediatric dentistry or periodontology, leading to consultant or specialist roles.

The profession combines clinical challenge with genuine continuity of patient care, and it offers a clear and well-supported career development pathway.