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Dental Officer

Dental Officer

Lead a dental team in the UK or deployed overseas to maintain the routine and emergency dental care of our personnel and maintain our operational capability.

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This role is classed as a RBP Healthcare and Medical Officer. As part of your application process, we’ll help you find the most suitable role based on your skills and experience.

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High interest role

This is a highly competitive role with potential long lead time to join. 

  • £92,300 - £132,000
  • Undergraduate Degree
  • Surface Fleet
  • Medical
  • Officer level
A colour photo shows a Royal Navy dentist and dental assistant performing a procedure on a patient. The patient is laid back and wears protective goggles. A bright light shines on their face. The dentist holds a dental drill in hand and wears magnifying dentist loupes. The assistant holds a dental mirror in hand. Both wear light blue scrubs and sterile gloves.

Role details

Being a Dental Officer in the Royal Navy means using your skills outside the confines of a civilian surgery and taking charge of the primary dental healthcare for an entire ship’s company.

If it sounds like a massive task, that’s because it is, but you’ll have the support of a dedicated team, including a Dental Hygienist and a Dental Nurse. Together, you’ll make a vital contribution to the wellbeing of the people who protect our nation’s interests, every day.

And you’ll do it all over the world, from the shore bases in the UK, to warships in the Caribbean.

  • You’ll work on large warships, including our state-of-the-art Type 45 Destroyers, where you’ll have a fully-fitted dental surgery and access to the sick bay’s operating theatre and ward facilities. On smaller ships, you’ll manage the portable dental unit that travels with you.
  • Join at a rank that reflects your experience, and take the opportunity to complete specialist training in areas such as periodontics or endodontics. You’ll also develop your management and leadership skills through our world-class courses and mentoring schemes.
  • Even the smallest dental problem can have a serious effect on the morale of a crew member and the effectiveness of the wider ship’s company. You’ll work with your team to complete preventative dentistry and deal with a full range of clinical problems, in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable.
  • Outside your practice, you’ll have a vital operational role to play. You could find yourself in a combat or disaster zone, where you’ll need to put flight-deck control, firefighting and advanced life support training to use.
  • A salary of at least £92,300 from day one
  • Opportunities to study for specialist qualifications such as periodontics or endodontics
  • An excellent pension scheme
  • Six weeks of paid holiday every year
  • Free medical and dental care

Qualifications you'll gain

  • Study for qualifications is specialisms such as periodontics and endodontics
  • Gain fully accredited professional and academic qualifications during your professional training

Skills you'll develop

  • How to be a leader and apply your knowledge in challenging conditions
  • Opportunities to specialise in major disciplines
  • You must be between 18 and 39 years old (You can start your application from 17 years old however you must be at least 18 years old on day of entry to basic training)
  • 5 grades A*-C (9-4) including English Language and Maths
  • To join directly you’ll need a dentistry degree and full General Dental Council registration
  • A National of the United Kingdom, a Commonwealth Citizen or Dual National
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
  • An ambitious, passionate dental professional
  • A confident leader
  • Always calm under pressure
  • Have a spirit of adventure
I thought qualifying as a Dentist was the hardest thing I’d ever do, but I was wrong. Since I joined the Royal Navy I’ve been challenged more than I imagined possible – it’s been really rewarding.

Karl

Dental Officer

Career Progression

From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.

Day One

Complete your militarisation and marinisation training within 10 weeks at HMS Raliegh. This initial stage of development for young officers, designed to build the leadership, discipline, and core military skills required for naval service, before then moving onto Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth for another 30 weeks to further develop these skills.  

Professional Training

Develop your chosen profession skills at your respective training establishment dependant on your profession. 

First Year

Learn management theory, develop your own style of leadership and experience your first time at sea practicing your role. 

First Promotion

Become a Sub – Lieutenant, advance you skills with further training, have an increased responsibility.

Second Promotion

Become a Lieutenant, lead a department and report directly into command. 

Joining Process

From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.

  • Register your interest
  • Complete your application
  • Interview
  • Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)
  • Start training

Register your interest

Find the right profession and entry level for you, make sure you meet the basic eligibility criteria, and register your interest online.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive an email with more details about your chosen profession, along with an invitation to speak with our friendly recruitment team about any questions or concerns you might have.

Start your application

Find your place in the Royal Navy. Make friends for life, learn new skills and experience the world.

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