The Verifera Encyclopaedia — Careers edition

BDS + Dental Foundation Training (and the NHS Performer Number)

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The UK dentist's route: a ~5-year BDS, full GDC registration, then Dental Foundation Training — plus a separate NHS Performer Number to deliver NHS general dental services.

A UK dentist completes a ~5-year BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), gains full GDC registration (temporary registration is not accepted for Dental Foundation Training), and undertakes ~1 year of Dental Foundation Training (DFT). A separate NHS Performer Number is required to perform NHS general dental services — full GDC registration does not automatically grant it.

Sources & verification

  • UK dentists complete a BDS, gain full GDC registration and Dental Foundation Training; a separate NHS Performer Number is required for NHS general dental services — source, verified 2026-06-09

Verified reference information — not professional, medical, legal or careers advice. Regulations change; always check the cited primary source before relying on it.

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