As it’s already known, preparing for dentistry school can be fun and at the same time, quite tasking. However, there is really nothing like finally seeing your dreams come true; your dreams of being a dentist in this case. Moving on, how much do you know though, about the best countries for dentists to work? Read on to find out.

The article below brings you the latest information on best countries for dentists to work, dentist shortage countries, best countries for dentist migration, best country to study dentistry, best place for dentist to work, dentist salary, graduate entry dentistry and so much more. You will also find related posts on dentistry universities UK entry requirements on Collegelearners.

A complete reference guide for Dental Students, Dental Residents, Dental Hygienists, Dental Assistants, Denturists, Orthodontists, X-Ray Technicians, Physiotherapists. The Best Countries for Dentists to work are highlighted in this article.

Dentist Shortage Countries

12 Reasons Why You Should Work As A Dentist In The Netherlands
Perhaps you are considering a career abroad, and you are still trying to figure out which country is the best for your future as a dentist. What makes a country the right environment for you to start or continue your career? Maybe the Netherlands is one of the options on the table, but it can be difficult to find correct and up-to-date information. In this blog, I will give you 12 reasons why the Netherlands is an attractive option for you as a dentist.

1. Plenty of vacancies and a big shortage of dentists

The Netherlands has been dealing with a shortage of dentists for years, and the end is not in sight. Many dentists are expected to retire in the coming few years, and there simply are not enough fresh graduates to fill their shoes. This makes it difficult for Dutch dentists to find new colleagues.

In order to keep Dutch dentistry healthy and patients happy, we depend on dentists who come from elsewhere in the EU to take these jobs. Dentists such as you. With the call for new dentists only increasing, you will find career opportunities in the Netherlands for years to come!

2. High quality of dentistry

The Netherlands is known for having a strong healthcare system, and this also extends to dentistry. It is home to many modern clinics where a wide range of treatments is offered. Contrary to some other countries, dentists in the Netherlands work with an assistant.

Patients generally visit the dentist twice per year for a check-up. This means that dentists have busy schedules. It is not an exception to see 15-25 patients per day, although the presence of an assistant will allow the dentists to dedicate themselves fully to the quality of the treatment. This focus on efficiency and quality allows young dentists to quickly gain work experience while also developing themselves as professionals.

Due to Dutch dentistry having a reputation of high quality, it is also something that patients have come to expect. But it is also this expectation that makes them more willing to pay for the best treatment. Concretely, this means that you will not just be doing fillings and extractions all day, but also treatments in fields such as prosthetics, endodontics and implantology. This variety allows for a high monthly turnover and, with that, high salaries.

3. (Young) Dentist are respected

In the Netherlands, dentistry is seen as a cornerstone of healthcare. By visiting the dentist for regular check-ups, an important basis for the patient’s general health – oral health – is safeguarded.

Dental healthcare is important to patients, and they trust that you are able to give them the best treatment. Age is not an issue; if you are able to get a clear picture of the needs of the patient and provide them with a fitting treatment, the patient will go home satisfied. A satisfied patient feels confident in your expertise, and will return to your clinic for the next check-up. Of course, communication and a good command of the Dutch language are an essential part of providing quality dental care.

4. Fixed costs

The costs of dental treatments in the Netherlands are fixed. This means that there is no competition in the area of pricing, and clinics are not able to promote their business with free treatments or other special offers. As a dentist, you can truly set yourself apart in terms of quality. When you provide good healthcare, patients will reward this by returning to your clinic for the next check-up or treatment.

5. Good working conditions – A stable balance between life and work

Being a dentist is among the best-paying jobs in the Netherlands. This means a good starting salary for young dentists, along with the perspective to grow considerably. None of this goes at the cost of a healthy balance between work and life.

From dentists who work in other European countries, I often hear stories about how they work 10 to 12-hour days (50 hours a week) for the same salary. This is not an issue in the Netherlands. The average work day lasts for 8 hours, and a full-time job amounts to 38-40 hours per week. There is plenty of time left for a life outside of your career, such as friends, family, sports and social activities.

6. Social security

The Netherlands has an elaborate social safety net. Should you encounter financial troubles due to unemployment (unlikely, given the current market situation), disease or other issues, there is ample opportunity to receive government support. If you have children, you may also be entitled to certain financial benefits to help you out as a caretaker.

In terms of retirement funds, dentists generally do not require financial aid of any sorts, as their earnings during their career are more than enough to allow for an enjoyable and carefree retirement. Because of this, many dentists choose to retire early, as they have enough money to live a comfortable life off interest alone.

7. Democracy, diversity & stable government

The Netherlands is known worldwide for its tolerance and freedom. As a dentist from abroad, it is pleasant to know that this is a safe country, where you will be accepted for who you are, regardless of ethnicity, sexual identity or religious beliefs.

Currently, we are living in an interesting time politically. The United Kingdom intends to leave the EU, and not even every country within the EU offers certainty and stability. The Netherlands is and will firmly remain a part of the EU, and, as such, keeps investing in labor mobility between EU countries. We also have a stable, corruption-free government that is eager to welcome EU labor migrants and give them a chance to build new lives and careers here.

8. 30% Ruling – Tax benefit for expats

With the 30% Ruling, the Dutch government hopes to attract foreign professionals who possess a certain expertise that is scarce here. This includes dentistry. Our government wants to compensate you for any extra costs you may incur while moving to the Netherlands, such as housing, learning the language, and other things. In practice, this means that you are entitled to tax exemption of up to 30% of your gross salary across 5 years, making it highly attractive to work in the Netherlands from a financial point of view.

9. Strong organization and good infrastructure

Dutch society has many general advantages, such as safety, good organization, punctuality, reliability and efficiency. Salaries are given out on a fixed date (the exact date varies per employer) and (medical) organizations work with such efficiency that most issues are resolved quickly.

Additionally, Dutch infrastructure is particularly strong. Every part of the country can be reached with ease, roads are maintained well and public transportation is widely available. Even with trains arriving and departing every few minutes in the Randstad area, punctuality is still a top priority!

Those who live close to work often travel there with Holland’s most iconic means of transportation: the bicycle.

10. Nature, water and hygiene

Despite being a heavily populated and urbanized country, there is still plenty of nature to enjoy in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, urban areas are clean, and stray animals are almost nowhere to be seen. Our preoccupation with hygiene also means that Dutch tap water makes for some of the best drinking water in the world.

11. Open culture

One of the most enjoyable aspects of Dutch culture is that you never have to be bored after work. There is a near endless amount of options in terms of leisure activities. Sport clubs, courses, dancing schools, volunteer work, bars, restaurants and much, much more awaits you. Moreover, we often celebrate events such as national holidays and neighborhood markets out in the streets. These are all opportunities for you to integrate with Dutch society, and feel at home in addition to working on your dentistry career.

12. Strong education system

The Dutch government aims to stimulate education, which, among other things, means that children from 4 to 18 years old do not have to pay tuition fees. Every child gets many opportunities to develop itself. As a dentist from abroad, you can put your child in one of the English/International schools, but you also have the option to send them to a regular primary school and let them be around and make friends with Dutch kids. Of course, this is a personal choice that is totally up to you.

In summary, a high quality of life!

In reality, I can summarize all of the above in one meaningful term: high quality of life.

As a dentist, you have the opportunity to move to a country that is safe, where you have more than enough career opportunities, and where you have everything you need to enjoy a comfortable life. Naturally, this applies to both you and your (future) family.

Are you curious about your own opportunites in Dutch Dentistry?

BGB can help you! Have a look at our website to discover more about how we can work with you and help you start a dentistry career in the Netherlands.

BGB also has a continuous vacancy for dentists, with new Dutch courses starting every month.

international Dentist opportunities

Top countries to migrate for a dentist

Perhaps you are considering a career abroad, and you are still trying to figure out which country is the best for your future as a dentist. What makes a country the right environment for you to start or continue your career?

As you may or may not be aware of, there are just some places in the world that provide better compensation for your job. Some countries in the world care about their dental health and are willing to pay highly for experts worldwide. It’s no wonder that the dentists here find the monetary gains of work satisfying.

Here are the tops countries:

1. Spain

The average annual salary for dentists is $176,000. This is a significant difference when compared to other countries. No wonder more and more dental professionals are making a move to Spain. Not only does the salary almost double that of Switzerland, but the country has relatively low tax and lower cost of living. When it comes to money, this is the best country to practice dentistry in.

2. The United States of America

The average annual salary for dentists is $146,340. Dental therapists, like dental health aids and dental hygienists, are not allowed to practice independently. As a result, the U.S. provides excellent, but often over-priced treatment and fails to offer affordable services for lower social classes. As you might imagine, dentists in the United States encounter a variety of circumstances. With complicated policies and high living costs, some states are not as friendly to dentists as others.

3. Canada

The average annual salary for dentists here is $81,800. Dentists of this country are well compensated for their treatments and services because of public healthcare, depending on location. Some provinces provide free care to children and the elderly. Though dentistry was slow to start in this country, Canada has over 16,000 practicing dentists compared to other countries in Europe.

4. United Kingdom

Foreign dentists can practice in the U.K. after clearing the equivalency exam ORE (conducted by General Dental Council). The weather conditions are suitable for most of the population. The daily expenditure is hight it comes to the United Kingdom, but you will like the fact that the average salary for dentists here is $78,638.

5. Switzerland

The average annual salary for dentists is $96,800. This country cares about oral and dental health. Thus, pay for dentists is relatively high, as is the case with most jobs in Switzerland.

6. Australia

The average annual salary for dentists here is $73,600. In Australia, dentists are one of, if not the top earners in medicine. They surpass almost every other medical professional. Both the Australian Dental Council and Dental Board of Australia oversee dentistry in the country. To practice there, you must obtain licensing and registration from the Dental Board of Australia. However, they do not grant registration to a foreign graduate until you pass the ADC exams or complete two years of schooling and obtain an education from a locally accredited dental school.

7. New Zealand

Like Australia and Canada, one needs to clear the equivalence exams to practice in New Zealand. The New Zealand Dentist Registration Examinations (NZDREX) have been outsourced to the NDEB of Canada and constitute three of the five exams that one needs to clear to practice in Canada. One must also clear the IELTS as part of the process. Besides this, one must again meet the criteria for the fitness of registration in New Zealand. The average annual salary for dentists in this country is $73,700. Here the dentists with the most experience usually earn the highest salaries.

8. United Arab Emirates

Starting to practice in the UAE is probably the easiest and quickest for dental professionals. One can begin practicing as soon as two months after clearing the respective license exams (DHA for Dubai; HAAD for Abu Dhabi; MOH for other Emirates). The exam fees are nominal, and the work-experience requirement is also low: two years for general practitioners and three years for specialty-based practice. The visa process is quite simple and hassle-free. Salaries are lucrative, starting 120,000 AED and tax-free. Dentists also enjoy a generous amount of paid leaves. A cosmopolitan culture and a vibrant community ensure us that one’s favorite cuisines are accessible.

9. Ireland

The average annual salary for dentists in this area is $65,600. Though qualified, many U.K. dentists opt to go to Ireland because of higher wages. This is because dentists in the area are allowed to include private fees in addition to their general service fees.

10. Norway

The average annual salary for dentists is $93,100. There is a high demand for dental work in this country, which accounts for dentists’ high salaries. Dental treatments for children are free, covered by the national health service. However, this is one of the countries where the high taxes and cost of living could factor into the decision making process.

which country is best for Dentistry

New Ranking Of The World’s Top Dental Schools

Updated March 12, 2021
Discover the top dentistry schools based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020.

Responding to demand for more specialized rankings, we bring to you a new ranking of the world’s top dental schools, one of six additions this year to the QS World University Rankings by Subject. The ranking aims to provide a useful resource for prospective students seeking the top universities for dentistry across the globe.

Read on for an overview of the world’s top 10 dentistry schools, followed by a closer look at top dental schools in each world region.

Top 10 Dental Schools in the World
Based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2015

Rank

Name of Institution

Location

1

Karolinska Institute

Sweden

2

University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Hong Kong

3

University of Gothenburg

Sweden

4

University of Michigan

United States

5

KU Leuven

Belgium

6

Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU)

Japan

7

King’s College London (KCL)

United Kingdom

8

University of Otago

New Zealand

9

Harvard University

United States

10

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

United States

Top dental schools in the US & Canada

The US boasts 15 entries among the 50 top dental schools worldwide, led by the University of Michigan (4th for dentistry; 23rd in the overall QS World University Rankings® 2014/15), followed closely by Harvard and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill at 9th and 10th. Also within the top 30 are the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA, 15th for dentistry; 37th in the world rankings), New York University (NYU, 16th for dentistry; 41st in the world rankings), the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF, 24th for dentistry; unranked in the world rankings), Columbia University (29th for dentistry; 14th in the world rankings) and Boston University (30th for dentistry; 78th in the world rankings).
Two universities in Canada feature among the top 50 dentistry schools; these are the University of British Columbia in 26th place (43rd in the world rankings) and the University of Toronto in 50th (20th in the world rankings).

Top dental schools in Europe

Sweden claims two of the world’s top 10 dentistry schools, including the world’s number one, Karolinska Institute, followed by the University of Gothenburg in 3rd place. A third Swedish entrant, Malmo University, is also ranked just outside the top 20.
The country with the most ranked schools in Europe, however, is the UK, with five. As well as King’s College London (7th), these include UCL (University College London) in 13th place (5th in the world rankings) the University of Manchester in joint 21st (30th in the world rankings) Newcastle University in 37th (127th in the world rankings) and the University of Birmingham in joint 41st (64th in the world rankings).

Denmark, Finland and Switzerland each offer two of the world’s top dentistry schools, with the Danish University of Copenhagen (45th in the world rankings) just missing out on the top 10, placing 11th. Aarhus University (23rd for dentistry; 96th in the world rankings) is Denmark’s second offering, followed by Finland’s University of Helsinki (27=for dentistry; 67th in the world rankings) and the University of Oulu (47= for dentistry; 259th in the world rankings).

Switzerland, meanwhile, fills both 19th and 20th positions for dentistry, with the University of Zurich (57th in the world rankings) and the University of Bern (145th in the world rankings) respectively.
European countries with one entrant among the top 50 dental schools include Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. Belgium’s KU Leuven ranks within the dentistry top five, followed by Spain’s Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) at 40th (212th in the world rankings), he Netherland’s Radboud University Nijmegen at 33rd (156th in the world rankings), and Germany’s Universität Freiburg ranks 46th (121st in the world rankings).

Learn more about studying in Europe with our European country guides.

Top dental schools in Latin America

While Latin America features less prominently in this ranking of dental schools, Brazil is a notable exception, claiming three entries among the world’s top 50 – the Universidade de São Paulo (USP, 12th for dentistry; 132nd in the world rankings), Universidade Estadual de Campinas (17= for dentistry; 206th in the world rankings) and Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho” (31st for dentistry; unranked in the world rankings).
For more top universities in Latin America, visit the QS University Rankings: Latin America, and check out our regional guide.

Top dental schools in Asia
Hong Kong is represented by the University of Hong Kong (HKU), which ranks 2nd in the world for dentistry and 28th in the overall QS World University Rankings. China, Singapore and Taiwan all also offer one top dental school. China’s Peking University is in joint 17th place (57th in the world rankings), followed by the National University of Singapore (NUS, 43rd for dentistry; 22nd in the world rankings) and National Taiwan University (NTU, 45th for dentistry; 76th in the world rankings).
Meanwhile in Japan, aside from Tokyo Medical and Dental University in 6th position for dentistry (294th in the world rankings), Osaka University is also featured in 44th place (55th in the world rankings). South Korea similarly offers two leading dentistry schools, including Seoul National University (SNU) at joint 27th (31st in the world rankings) and Yonsei University at joint 41st (106th in the world rankings).

Top dental schools in Australia & New Zealand

Australia has three universities ranked among the world’s top 50 dental schools. These are the University of Melbourne in 14th (33rd in the world rankings), the University of Adelaide in 25th (100th in the world rankings) and the University of Sydney in joint 38th (37th in the world rankings).
New Zealand meanwhile offers one top dentistry school within its borders, which, as you can see by the top 10 table above, is the University of Otago, ranked 8th in the world for dentistry and 159th in the overall world rankings.

Dentist Jobs in Europe

IMS has recruited many dentists and dental hygienists for Middle East clients.

The Middle East offers candidates the chance to earn attractive tax-free salaries as well as excellent working conditions in very modern clinics and hospitals with the most up to date technology.

In the past year, IMS has recruited dentists for Dubai, Saudi, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Libya.

Our clients include prestigious private groups and practices and some of the region’s top hospitals looking for oral surgeons and maxillofacial specialists.

Candidates we are looking for

For most of our prestigious clients, they will only accept highly qualified and experienced dentists qualified from top western universities who also can bring extensive western experience. For UAE dentist jobs, only western experienced candidates already registered with DHA and HAAD should apply.

Registration Requirements

For the UAE, registration is now the norm prior to any job application. Registration will not be required before a client will review a cv (eg Saudi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar). Registration will be required after a job offer has been made and attained before a candidate starts work.

Some clients accept candidate’s home country registration and there are no further registration requirements (eg Libya).