I came here from Ukraine in 2022 when the war started, and I knew I wanted to continue practising paediatric dentistry. It is the only thing I know, and I love working with children and improving their quality of life.
Preparation
It took around four months to prepare all my documents for submission to the GDC in order to apply to work as a dental therapist in the UK. First I had to order my syllabus from a medical-dental university in Ukraine, which was hundreds of pages that had to be translated. There were other documents too, like my diplomas and documentation from conferences I had attended there. After compiling all of the documentation I had to get it all to London which was difficult because of the war. There are some companies that arrange minibuses from Ukraine to the UK, and I had to find a reliable one.
I took a route that is no longer available; making the application at the end of February 2023 and receiving my final registration as a dental therapist in January 2025, so it took almost two years.
While I was waiting I worked as a territory manager for an oral healthcare company, and I still do that part time.
The job meant that I was close to dentistry all the time, speaking to other dentists. I still went to dental conferences and read journals and so on. At times I went back to visit the clinic in Ukraine where I practised my whole life, and saw patients who were waiting for me there.
After such a long break I was concerned about how I would get back into dentistry again, but it was like riding a bicycle.
Practising in the UK
I was a dentist in Ukraine and I applied to be a dental therapist here so that I could still do most of the procedures like fillings, not just hygiene. I can still do a lot but I am quite limited because I have to get the treatment plan approved by a dentist in the practice where I work. That is the main difference for me practising here, in Ukraine I used to make my own treatment plan without getting anyone’s approval.
Another difference is that in the UK you can only do general anaesthetic in hospitals, whereas in Ukraine you can do it in private practice as long as you have got the same relevant equipment as a hospital.
"If you do something with passion and love, and give it 100%, it doesn’t matter where you work. Cavities are the same all over the world!"
On the whole, there is not a big difference between practising in either country. In Ukraine I worked in private practice and that is what I do here. The kids are all lovely, the parents want the best for them and worry about them. If you do something with passion and love, and give it 100%, it doesn’t matter where you work. Cavities are the same all over the world!
Advice for other overseas dentists adjusting to UK practice
What is really important is to read the scope of practice issued by the GDC, and follow all the guidelines on ethics and safeguarding. Treatment is the same everywhere, but overseas dentists have to be aware of how the GDC wants it to be. It is dentistry but also regulations, so you need time to learn it all.
It is really good to stay close to dentistry and get the latest information, so that you keep up to date with everything. Read books and articles, and stay involved in dentistry even if you cannot practise. You could even work at a dental practice as a treatment co-ordinator or something, and feed your brain.
Reflections
I couldn’t wait to get GDC registration, although if I could change one thing about how I approached the process, I wouldn’t have stressed so much about it. I’m proud of myself for getting the registration in the end and so glad of the support from my family and friends, and from other dentists in the UK.
I feel really good now because this country helped my daughter and me when we really needed it, and now I can share that and give back to the UK. In the future I plan to register as a dentist. For me, giving back is not just about paying taxes, it is about helping people in the best way I can, and the way I have been taught.
