The General Dental Council (GDC) has approved a new dentistry degree that provides practical training for overseas students within primary care practice.
The University of Central Lancashire’s Bachelor of Dental Surgery International (BDSi) route was approved by the GDC for taking a new approach that prepares overseas dentists for practice and registration in the UK.
The training BDSi students receive from the university’s School of Medicine and Dentistry was found to be proficient, ensuring graduates meet the standards required to provide dental care.
This 18-month programme allows overseas qualified dentists to enter the University’s Bachelor of Dental Surgery course after year three, where they undertake practical and clinical components in an enhanced training practice in the UK and in the university’s phantom head facilities at the Preston Campus.
GDC standards
BDSi course leader Anna Barlach Pritchard developed the innovative programme. She said: ‘The UK struggles to recruit and retain dentists and large parts of our communities cannot access a general dental appointment funded by the NHS. This course has been designed to address the issue, by providing qualified registrants with a supportive route to practice dentistry in the UK.
‘There are significant differences in dentistry training around the world and not all meet GDC standards. By taking qualified overseas dentists and placing them into primary care practices in the UK, we are able to closely monitor each student’s progress and assess that they meet the required standards before they qualify.
‘The feedback from our graduates has also been very positive. They feel supported during the transition into UK practice, which for some is very different from where they worked previously.
‘When they complete the course, the dentists are then able to apply to be GDC registered. They can work in areas where there is a real need for more dentists, both in general practice and the hospital services.’
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