Dental Specialty Training

NHSE WT&E, Dental Directorate in Thames Valley and Wessex provides a range of programmes open to those who would like to pursue a dental specialist training. We are currently running dental specialist programmes in Orthodontics (pre and post CCST), Oral Surgery, Special Care, Restorative Dentistry and Paediatric Dentistry.

Our Trainees have an opportunity to work in the highly regarded training hospitals including John Radcliffe Hospital (Oxford), Stoke Mandeville Hospital (Aylesbury), Royal Berkshire Hospital (Reading), Milton Keynes University Hospital, Queen Alexandra Hospital (Portsmouth), University Hospital Southampton.

Recruitment

Recruitment to Dental Specialty Training (DST) posts in the United Kingdom is through national selection process led by various National Recruitment Offices.

2025 Recruitment Timeline

Orthodontics ST4 posts available for September 2025 start:

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job Description

Milton Keynes University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job Description available at 0.8WTE

Portsmouth University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job Description

Special Care Dentistry ST1 posts available for September 2025 start:

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Job Description

The Education Programme

Oral Surgery Study Day Programme
Special Care Dentistry Study Day Programme

Assessments

TBC

ISCP e-Portfolio

Guidance for Trainees:
How to navigate Assessments

Guidance for Educational Supervisors

Resources

COPDEND
COPDEND is the UK Committee of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors and is the leading UK Advisory Group for NHS commissioned dental education and training which supports the multiprofessional workforce to deliver greater quality of oral healthcare. COPDEND website provides information on Dental Gold Guide 4th Edition, various application forms, Inter-Deanery Transfer process.

General Dental Council
GDC is the UK regulator for dental professions and is responsible for approving all curricula for education and training in specialist dentistry. The curricula are developed by Specialty Advisory Committees (SACs) who report to the relevant dental faculties of the Royal Colleges.
Specialty Curricula

The Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England provides world-class education, assessment and development to 30,000 surgeons, dental professionals and members of the wider surgical and dental care teams, at all stages of their career

Guidance on Personal Development Plan

Dental Exams

NHSE Overseas Sponsorship Team