In reality, there is no difference between a French dental practitioner and his British counterpart. However, France and the United Kingdom have very different health care systems, which has an impact on the nature of the procedures and the level of care provided to patients. Similarly, the studies required to obtain a dental surgeon's diploma differ from one country to another, as does the legislation governing the profession. In the end, for the same profession, two fundamentally different frameworks of practice...
In the UK, more selective and expensive studies
In France, access to dentistry studies (or dental surgery) is done after obtaining the baccalaureate. Candidates can choose between two courses, offered by about fifteen universities: the PASS (specific health access course) or a L.AS (license with health access option).
At the end of this 3-year cycle, students continue their education in the fundamental knowledge of dentistry during the second cycle (4th and 5th years).
Finally, the future dentist must choose between two cycles: a short one, lasting one year, consisting mainly of internships, and a long one, lasting 3 or 4 years, with a choice of three specialties (dentofacial orthopedics, oral medicine or oral surgery).
In the United Kingdom, each university sets the entry requirements for its dental program. All require an excellent level of English and a AAA rating in A-Levels exams. Most universities also require the study of biology and chemistry in high school, and may include UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) or BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test) to ensure the applicant's critical and cognitive thinking skills.
The 5-year course of study, combining theory and practice, leads to a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). Those who wish to specialize further (e.g. orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, etc.) can continue their studies to obtain a postgraduate diploma.
A major difference with France, where tuition fees are low: in the UK, dental studies cost about £9250 per year.
Social security VS private system
In France, dental care is reimbursed at 70% of the conventional social security rate. Dentists, like sector 2 doctors, are free to charge higher fees, but the prices of certain procedures are capped.
In the United Kingdom, there are two types of health care: public (covered by the National Health Service - NHS), and private care. The care managed by the NHS is limited in cost for the patient, and determined by a fixed price according to the procedure performed. As a result, care is rather basic, and therapeutic options are limited. On the private side, on the other hand, practitioners are free to set their own prices.
This allows them to offer a more varied range of care, more conservative techniques, and to spend more time on it. To compensate for this difference between public and private, more and more "mixed " practices are appearing.
Authorization for advertising
In France, until recently, dentists were simply forbidden to advertise. But a recent decree has slightly relaxed this ban. Practitioners can now communicate information to the public.
The latter must be formulated with caution and measure, and respect the ethical obligations, as well as the recommendations issued by the National Council of the Order of Dental Surgeons.
In the United Kingdom, if freedom of advertising is much greaterIn the United Kingdom, while there is more freedom to advertise, all advertising must be ethical, accurate and free of deception. The General Dental Council (GDC) has published a leaflet that lists obligations and tips for "proper" advertising.
Legislation and technological investments
Although it is still in its infancy, the process of concentration of dental care is much more advanced in the UK than in France. Across the Channel, 15% of dental practices are owned by groups, whereas this proportion is only 1% in France.
This is due to strict French legislation that complicates the participation of private investors in healthcare activities, a largely regulated pricing system for procedures, and price ceilings... All of these are reasons that push French dental practices to remain small, and prevent them from making costly investments in new technologies.
In the United Kingdom, the NHS announced in 2019 a plan worth nearly 300 million euros intended to accelerate the development of AI in the healthcare sector. In addition, the free pricing of the private dental sector, and an overall more "liberal" legislation , has allowed the emergence of large-scale practices, with the means of significant investments.
With more freedom than their French counterparts, British dentists are probably better able to make the technological shift announced by innovations such as 3D printing, new imaging solutions, laser tools and patient communication.
