Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

The Work

The dentist studies the patient's past history of dental care and examines the mouth and teeth, sometimes using X-rays, to detect gum disease or tooth decay. Typical routine treatment includes:

• Extracting decayed or septic teeth
• Drilling, preparing and filling cavities
• Scaling and polishing teeth
• Advising on oral hygiene

The dentist may treat irregular teeth by fitting appliances such as braces or may replace teeth by fitting crowns, bridges or dentures. Sometimes they carry out surgery on diseased gums and infected roots to help preserve teeth. Newly qualified dentists entering general practice usually begin their career as an associate in a group practice, where they can receive support from more experienced colleagues.  
 
Dentists in the community dental service are responsible for the treatment of priority groups such as young children, expectant mothers and adults with physical or mental impairments. They work in local clinics and may travel to locations such as schools, day centres and residential homes to carry out inspections and advise on dental health education.  
 
Some dentists work in the dental department of general hospitals. Newly qualified dentists begin their career as house officers and progress through the grades of house officer, registrar, senior registrar and assistant dental surgeon to consultant status. During this period, they combine work with study for one of the dental specialisms, which involves taking further examinations.  
 
There are two recognised specialties in Ireland:

• Oral surgery
• Orthodontics

Oral surgeons work mainly in hospitals and universities. Dentists specialising in oral and maxillo-facial surgery treat injuries to the face or serious diseases of the teeth and gums.

Dentists specialising in orthodontics treat the more complex cases of crooked or missing teeth, fitting appliances to correct these and advising dentists in general practice. 

Most orthodontists work in private practice, although some work in hospitals, universities and the Public Dental Service. To become a specialist, two years of general professional training must be undergone after primary qualification, and this is followed by three years of fulltime specialist training. To become a consultant may involve a further three years of higher training.

The training takes place in university teaching hospitals in Ireland, or other such recognised training establishments, often in the UK or other EU countries. Trainees generally provide dental care during their training and are normally paid as appropriate. On completion of training as a specialist you normally receive a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training in orthodontics or oral surgery, issued by the Dental Council, and are entered onto the appropriate Specialist Register.

You may also receive a diploma from one of the Royal Colleges of Ireland or the UK, such as a “Fellowship” or “Membership”, or a master’s degree or PhD from a university. Aside from the two recognised specialties, there are other traditional specialist areas of dentistry such as paediatric dentistry, periodontology, and endodontics, where practitioners have undertaken further training and have limited their practices to their specialty.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
• Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, or other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments.
• Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures.
• Use dental air turbines, hand instruments, dental appliances, or surgical implements.
• Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue.
• Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, or malformations of teeth, gums, or related oral structures and provide preventive or corrective services.
• Write prescriptions for antibiotics or other medications.
• Advise or instruct patients regarding preventive dental care, the causes and treatment of dental problems, or oral health care services.
• Design, make, or fit prosthodontic appliances, such as space maintainers, bridges, or dentures, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for denturists or dental technicians.
• Fill pulp chamber and canal with endodontic materials.

Further Information

• Dentist - Oral Surgeon - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Dentist - Oral Surgeon - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Dentist - Oral Surgeon - from: YouTube [UK]
• Dentist - Oral Surgeon - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

General admission procedures to the study of Dentistry is based on the CAO points systems for students presenting Leaving Certificate or Matriculation examinations.

Queens University in Belfast also run a degree course in dentistry. Studying Dentistry in Europe has become a popular option for Irish students Studying Abroad. 

Training & Development

FET Centre Traineeship: Dental Nursing in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Dental Nursing at NFQ Level 5 Search FET PLC Courses

Higher Education CAO Entry: Dentistry, Dental Technology, Dental Nursing, Dental Science, Dental Hygiene, courses at NFQ Levels 6-8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development

Postgraduate Study Dental Surgery, Dental Public Health, Conscious Sedation in Dentistry, Dental Science - Research, Research - Master of Surgery, Surgery, Surgery - Research at NFQ level 9-10 Search postgrad options

IAOS Irish Association of Oral Surgery 

Dental Council of Ireland maintain the Oral Surgery Specialist List

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €60k - €114k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role. 

Data Source(s):
HSE/ Indeed/ Glassdoor

Last Updated: August, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was above the national average for this occupation, although employment in 2022 were similar to 2021 levels. The CSO Census data shows that employment was spread across a large number of roles in 2022, with increases across all within this occupation since 2016.

While the numbers employed have increased since 2016, for the most part, the supply from the education and training system has not, and plans to expand training will not have an impact on the potential supply to the labour market in the short-term, given the duration of training required. This has led to issues for a number of roles within this group; for instance, there is an increasing number of students opting to study veterinary medicine in Poland due to the lack of available places to study in Ireland.

Psychologists and pharmacists were added to the employment permits Critical Skills list in June 2022 although new permits issued in 2022 primarily related to radiographers/sonographers, with a small number issued for dentists and pharmacists. With a quarter of those employed aged 55 years or older, replacement demand alone will create job opportunities in the coming years. Demand remains high across these occupations and issues with recruitment are occurring; however, as the numbers employed are too small across the roles for detailed analysis, evidence of shortages are difficult to determine.

• Health Service Executive (HSE)

  • Dr Steevens' Hospital, Steevens Lane, Dublin, 8
  • 041 685 0300
  • Click Here

• Dublin Dental University Hospital

  • Trinity College Dublin, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2.
  • (01) 612 7391
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Public Appointments Service

  • Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C7W6
  • (01) 858 7400 or Local: 1890 44 9999
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Dental Association

  • Unit 2, Leopardstown Office Park, Sandyford, Dublin 18
  • (01) 295 0072
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Dental Health Foundation Ireland

  • PO Box 12343Dublin 2
  • (01) 672 8870
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Dental Council of Ireland

  • 57 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
  • (01) 676 2069
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here