The vast majority of Bristol graduates go on to complete Dental Foundation Training following graduation. This is a two year programme run by the NHS which allows graduates to work as NHS Dentists in the community and beyond.

Upon completion of Dental Foundation Training, some graduates choose to undertake further clinical training in a hospital setting where they can specialise in clinical specialties, or undertake academic training alongside their clinical training funded by the National Institute for Health Research.

Data obtained from

• Dental Surgery (BDS)
• Graduates from the UK 

Responses were received from 35 UK graduates from 2019/20; this is a response rate of 57.4%

Destinations

Most important activity	Percentage of graduates
Paid work for an employer	62.9%
Self-employment/freelancing	28.6%
Running my own business	0%
Developing a creative, artistic or professional portfolio	0%
Voluntary/unpaid work for an employer	0%
Engaged in a course of study, training or research	2.9%
Taking time out to travel	0%
Caring for someone	2.9%
Retired	0%
Unemployed and looking for work	0%
Doing something else	2.9%

Sector information

Bristol Dental students will also develop a range of transferable skills, such as critical appraisal, communication, leadership and management, observation, listening, logical reasoning and decision making. These skills are crucial when working as a dentist, but can be just as useful in work outside dentistry.

Employers and occupations

Employers

• Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
• My Dentist

Occupations

• Dentist
• Dental Core Trainee
• Associate Dentist