Dentistry :the facts

There are 1,800 dentists registered in the State and about 1,600 of these are practising. The majority work in general practice but there are 330 working for the health board and a small number are in the two teaching hospitals in Dublin and Cork.

The Dublin Dental Hospital trains the undergraduate degree students of TCD; the Cork Dental Hospital trains the students from UCC. Both courses are over five years but, unlike medicine, there is no internship year.

The male/female ratio in dentistry is abut 50:50, but this is changing as both courses currently have a 60:40 ration in favour of the women. Public service dentists can earn £30,500 to £35,000 starting off, but the health board has the freedom to alter this figure. At the top of the scale public health dental surgeons can earn £50,936 with the possibility of a further £6,367 in allowances.