Some practices also employ practice managers so that dentists can concentrate on clinical work.
Hospital dentists usually treat patients who have been referred by a GDP and provide more specialised and complex dental care. Additional postgraduate qualifications are required for career progression.
Dental officers working in the Community Dental Service (CDS) (known in England as the Salaried Primary Dental Care Service (SPDCS)) are employed by the NHS and provide dental care to adults and children with special needs and disabilities, as well as providing school visits.
Dentists in the armed forces hold a commissioned rank and provide a comprehensive range of dental services for armed forces personnel in the UK and abroad.