As a Year 12 student (typically age 16-17), you have a good chance to gain real dental work experience. Many dental schools expect applicants to have explored dentistry firsthand. Showing that you’ve seen a dentist at work - even for just a week - strengthens your university application and confirms your career choice.
Year 12 is the perfect time: you can plan to do it before applications open. Take the initiative now to shadow dentists or volunteer in dental settings, and use workshops to improve your knowledge.
Why Year 12? You’ll apply to dental school at the end of Year 13, so experiences in Year 12 show long-term commitment. Observing clinic life (dentist, hygienist, nurse roles) will teach you about patient care and procedures. Dental schools want students who’ve really investigated dentistry.
Plenty of Options: For 16-17 year olds, “there is always something available” from Year 12 onwards. You might find local clinics that take students, or week-long programs like at Newcastle’s Dental Hospital. Even if a practice turns you down, there are alternatives (hospital shadowing, volunteering, Medic Life workshops). Variety is key to a strong application.
Dentistry Work Experience Year 12 -> Where to Look for Year 12 Dental Experience?
Year 12 students have more options than younger teens. Key avenues include:
Dental Practices and Clinics: Email or visit dentists and orthodontists in your area. A polite message saying you’re a Year 12 student interested in dentistry can open doors. Many practices will let you observe for a few days if spaces are available. A short CV or school reference can help make a good impression.
Dental Hospitals and Universities: Major hospitals often host A-Level students. For example, Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary Dental Hospital runs week-long placements for Year 12s. Cardiff University’s Dental School also takes 16+ students on clinic days (Thursday/Friday placements). If you live near Manchester or London, check the University Dental Hospitals and NHS trust websites for programs aimed at 16–18 year olds.
NHS Trust Work Experience: Some NHS trusts have general Year 12 work experience schemes. It’s worth applying even if they’re not dental-specific – departments like ENT, maxillofacial, or general medicine let you observe patient care. Being in a hospital environment shows maturity and exposes you to patient interactions. (Note: most trusts require students to be 16 or older for clinical areas.)
Virtual and Online Programs: If in-person is hard to arrange, virtual learning helps. The Medic Life offer free online dentistry workshops, and a work experience programme which consists of series of Free work experience workshops. Additionally, the University of Sheffield’s Discover Dentistry MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) is free and open to all. These opportunities teach basic dental knowledge and count as informed research.
Support & tips: Dentistry Work Experience Year 12
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Use Medic Life: Think of Medic Life as your mentor. We run Dental School Work Experience Workshops with talks from Dentists so you can learn about different roles and how to reflect on what you see. Read our guides and ask our team questions to prepare.
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Dress and Attitude: When you visit clinics, wear smart casual clothes (scrubs or business casual is fine). Introduce yourself, thank the staff, and always follow their guidance.
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Ask Questions (Carefully): Observe quietly, but if the dentist or nurse invites questions, ask about what you see. Good topics include: treatment names, patient communication, or career paths.
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Reflect on Learning: After each day, jot down what you learned about dentistry and teamwork. For example, note how hygienists interact with patients or how a dentist explains procedures. These reflections are gold for your personal statement and interviews.
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Highlight Soft Skills: Being on time, communicating clearly, and showing empathy are as important as watching drills. Mention any volunteer or babysitting experience you have in your statement – schools look at overall patient-oriented skills.
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Your mentor: Medic Life guides you through every step of your dental school application journey – so that you too can LIVE THE MEDIC LIFE!
The Medic Life's Expert Support with Dentistry Work Experience for Year 12's
We make your journey easier with expert guidance and free resources. Our Work Experience Workshops (online and in-person) pack in lots of value: dentists from different specialties explain what they do and how to shadow them, and we teach you how to reflect on your placements for your dental school personal statement. In fact, our last workshop had over 3,000 applicants for only 340 spots – they sold out in 60 seconds!
Beyond events, Medic Life offers one-on-one mentoring: you can get advice from senior medical students who have been through this process. We provide reflection journals and checklists so you don’t miss key learning points during your placement. All of these are free – we want every interested 16-year-old to have a chance.