11 March 2025
By the end of your course, you’ll probably be itching to start life as an independent dental professional – but leaving the familiarity of dental school for your first job can feel daunting.
These five tips will help you transition smoothly from the world of learning to the world of work and make a good impression on new colleagues and patients.
1. Get a proper induction
Your organisation should provide an induction to help you settle in. It should cover things like:
- colleagues and roles – meeting your team and understanding their roles and responsibilities
- health and safety – infection control, fire hazards, zero tolerance policies and more
- systems and confidentiality – IT, telephony, record-keeping, privacy policies and safeguarding
- conduct and policies – discrimination, social media use and disciplinary procedures.
Make the most of a distraction-free opportunity to learn about the way the practice works and ask all the questions you need.
Even after an induction, you’re likely to need support as you adapt to your new surroundings, so find out if there’s a senior team member who can be your go-to contact.
2. Work within your competency
Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help from an experienced colleague if a procedure is beyond your expertise, like a difficult extraction. It’s better to treat the situation as a learning opportunity than bluff your way through a procedure and risk patient safety.
The GDC says you must only carry out a task, “if you are appropriately trained, competent, confident and indemnified” – and lack of training is no defence if the patient suffers any harm.
3. Do your bit to make work a pleasant place to be
The GDC expects you to “work effectively with colleagues and contribute to good teamwork” in the patients’ interest. Being approachable and communicative will also help you to build positive working relationships and prevent misunderstandings.
- Clear, respectful communication is key, whether you’re chairside with a dental nurse, discussing treatment or making a referral.
- Learn from others and seek guidance when you’re unsure to avoid mistakes.
- If something go wrong, be open and honest about your actions, rather than shifting blame.
4. Stay organised with a PDP and CPD log
Once qualified, you must complete the minimum of hours verifiable CPD for your role to maintain your GDC registration, as set out in the GDC’s enhanced CPD scheme guidance.
- Dentists need to do a minimum of 100 hours over a five-year cycle.
- Dental therapists and hygienists need to do 75 hours.
- Dental nurses need to do 50 hours.
The GDC expects you to complete at least 10 hours of CPD every two years, even if this period overlaps your CPD cycle.
Your CPD cycle starts at the beginning of your first full registration year. Meet with a mentor or line manager as soon as possible to set up your personal development plan (PDP). This will help you to identify your learning needs, plan relevant CPD activity and link each activity to the GDC’s development outcomes (your PDP should be reviewed each year).
You’ll also need to create a CPD log to record dates and duration and store verifiable evidence like course certificates.
5. Keep your indemnity up to date
You need to declare that you have professional indemnity when registering with the GDC and when renewing each year. More than just a requirement, it ensures you have access to dento-legal support, advice and representation if you need it.
The benefits of DDU membership include:
- indemnity and help with complaints, GDC investigations and other issues arising from your clinical practice
- 24-hour dento-legal adviceline
- contract reviews for self-employed clinicians
- professional development resources to obtain verifiable CPD
- reduced fees to newly qualified clinicians.
Every dental professional faces challenges when adjusting to practice life, so don’t be too hard on yourself. No one expects perfection straight out of dental school – what really matters is trying to do your best for patients and refine your clinical skills.
Make the most of all the support from colleagues, mentors, and the DDU – we’re here to help you succeed.
The DDU is here for you as a student and throughout your dental career. Visit the join DDU pages to explore the benefits of membership now and beyond graduation.
This page was correct at publication on 11/03/2025. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.
by Leo Briggs BDS, MSc Deputy head of the DDU
Leo Briggs qualified from University College Hospital, London, in 1989. He has worked extensively in the Community Dental Service including a brief period overseas. He has also worked in General Dental Practice.
Leo gained a masters degree in Periodontology from the Eastman in 1995 and is on the GDC specialist register for Periodontics. Since 1995 he has provided specialist periodontal treatment in both the Salaried Dental Services and Private Practice. He started working for the DDU in 2005. Between 2007 and 2009 he worked part time at the DDU and part time as a Clinical Tutor at the School for Professionals Complementary to Dentistry in Portsmouth. In 2009 Leo went full time with the DDU. In January 2016 he became deputy head of the DDU. He continues to work clinically as a specialist periodontist in a General Practice on Saturdays.