Specialist Dentist

Specialist dentists diagnose and treat complex conditions affecting the teeth, mouth, jaws and surrounding tissues in a defined area of expertise such as orthodontics, oral surgery, periodontology, endodontics or prosthodontics. You carry out advanced clinical procedures that go beyond the scope of general dental practice, such as placing dental implants, correcting bite irregularities with fixed appliances, performing complex extractions or managing diseases of the supporting structures of the teeth. Much of your working day involves patient consultations, detailed treatment planning, carrying out clinical procedures and reviewing progress over extended treatment courses. You collaborate with general dental practitioners who refer patients to you, as well as with consultants in oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, and other medical specialties, particularly in HSE hospital settings.

Entry into dental specialisation in Ireland requires completion of a primary dental degree, the BDS or equivalent, at NFQ Level 8, typically taken at Trinity College Dublin or University College Cork. Following qualification and registration with the Dental Council of Ireland, you must work in general or hospital dentistry before undertaking a recognised postgraduate specialist training programme, usually a Masters or Doctorate at NFQ Level 9 or 10. Specialist training programmes in areas such as orthodontics, oral surgery or periodontology are offered through Irish dental schools and teaching hospitals, often in conjunction with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. On completion of an accredited specialist training programme, you apply to be entered on the Dental Council's specialist register, which is a legal requirement to hold yourself out as a specialist in Ireland. Leaving Certificate subjects that lay the groundwork include Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics at Higher Level, as strong science grades are essential for competitive CAO entry to dentistry.