Professional Background of Overseas Dental Graduates Seeking UK Dental Licensure

Methods: participants in a sequential series of preparatory courses for this examination were asked to complete a questionnaire relating to their training, professional experience and current employment.

Results: 151/166 completed the questionnaire representing 22 countries and 1 to 22 years postgraduate experience. 37 held postgraduate qualification from the UK or overseas. 36 had dental employment in the UK, as nurses (21) or in training posts/observerships (15). In terms of educational needs, most were seeking educational support in the areas of basic science and human disease. In this respect they were similar to those preparing for Part A MFDS. Although larger groups included Iraqi (9), Pakistani (7), Syrian (7) or Brazilan (7) graduates, by far the largest were from India (86). Of these 44 had trained in a few dental schools in a single Indian state. This may be explained in terms of the local political climate favoring the commercialisation of professional education and the development of private dental schools.

Conclusions: overseas graduates seeking UK dental licensure represent a diverse range of cultural backgrounds and professional experience. A greater understanding of these and the problems they face would ease their integration into the UK dental profession.