Dentistry Work Experience Year 12: Free Dental School Work Experience for Year 12’s - Are You a Future Dentist?
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 free 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, The Medic Life online workshops). Variety is key to a strong application.
Join The Medic Life free Dentist Work Experience Workshop and Webinar - it’s a perfect introduction to what you’ll see and do. We’ll show you exactly where to look for placements (and answer your FAQs!). Spots are limited, so register early to secure your place.
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 The Medic Life: Think of The Medic Life as your mentor. We run free Dental School Work Experience Workshops (e.g. Feb 2026 at King’s College London) 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: The Medic Life guides you through every step of your dental school application journey – so that you too can LIVE THE MEDIC LIFE!
PS: Don't forget about The Medic Life Dentistry Work Experience Opportunities!
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! We also run Q&A webinars where Dr Bakhtar and team will cover “How to get work experience and use it”.
Beyond events, The 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.
Sign up now to secure your place in the next free workshop and start charting your path into dentistry! (Spaces fill fast – our events are hugely popular.)
Dentistry Work Experience Year 12: The Medic Life’s FREE Work Experience Opportunities for Aspiring Dentists!
About The Medic Life Free Dentistry Work Experience Workshop for Year 12 Students
Following on from the success of The Medic Life Work Experience Workshops over the last 6 years, and especially due to the HUGE demand this year. We are very excited to announce the FREE Dentistry Work Experience Workshop on 22nd February 2026.
This will be a day packed full of talks from Dentists across various specialties, explaining what their roles consist of. You’ll gain an understanding of the variety of experiences they go through, along with the pros and cons of working in the medical field. We will also guide you on how to reflect on your medical work experience and use it effectively in your personal statements and interviews.
Last year, over 3000 students wanted to attend The Medical Life Work Experience Workshop on 27th April at King's College London, but with only 340 spaces available in the lecture theatre, free tickets were given out on a first come, first serve basis - and sold out within 60 seconds!
HOW DO I SECURE MY SPOT?
To support your application to Medical and Dental School, we’re offering GUARANTEED spaces to anyone who books onto our 2-day LIVE Online UCAT course this summer. Priority will be given to iIf any tickets remain, they’ll be released 1 week before the event. Please register NOW to join the ticket release list.
FAQs - Free Dentistry Work Experience Year 12
How can I find and secure dentisty work placements?
Planning and persistence pay off for Year 12s!
Apply Early: Many placements fill up. Start contacting clinics and applying to programs in early Year 12 (summer or autumn). Some NHS websites open sign-ups in spring for summer placements.
Prepare a CV: Even a one-page CV helps. List your GCSE grades, sciences studied, extracurriculars (especially caring roles or clubs) and a brief objective like “Aspiring dentist, keen to observe clinical practice.” A clear format shows professionalism.
Use Personal Contacts: Ask family or friends if they know any dentists. School career advisors might have local contacts. Referrals can get you an interview or trial day.
The Medic Life Workshops: The Medic Life runs free in-person workshops (e.g. our day at King’s College London) for Year 12 applicants. These give hands-on sessions and talks by dentists, and you get a certificate of attendance. Attending one can count as experience to mention.
Follow Up: If you send an email or form, follow up with a phone call after a week if you haven’t heard back. Be polite and enthusiastic - showing your eagerness can impress practice managers.
Can I do dental work experience as a Year 12?
Yes, definitely. At 16–17 you can join many experiences aimed at A-Level students. Dental schools generally want to see Year 12 candidates shadow dentists or work with healthcare teams. Contact local dentists, hospital dental departments, and look for NHS youth programs.
Are there free Year 12 programs?
Most hospital and practice placements are free – you’re volunteering. The Medic Life offer free workshops specifically for aspiring dentists (for example, our free KCL dental workshop). The Sheffield and Oxford MOOC and other online resources are also free. Avoid paid-for shadowing companies if free options exist. Remember, dental schools expect you to reflect on your work experience in your personal statements and interviews, so quality over is quantity is the way. And for additional help The Medic Life is here to help you succeed!
What about the Newcastle RVI Dental Hospital?
Yes – Newcastle University’s Dental Hospital (Royal Victoria Infirmary) typically allows local Year 12 students to spend a week observing dentists. Contact university dentistry departments in your region; many run similar schemes for 16–18 year olds.
How much experience do I need?
There’s no strict minimum. Around 2 weeks total is often suggested (e.g. 1 week in practice, 1 week hospital). However, quality matters more. Even 5 days of focused observation with clear notes is valuable if you reflect on it.
How do I find local Year 12 placements?
Use online search and local resources. Search and look on NHS trust or council websites. Ask your school’s careers advisor. Clinics often respond better to direct inquiries (phone or in-person). Check out The Medic Life’s specific events and partner schools too.
Do I need a DBS check?
Typically no for short shadowing stints. Officially, only 16+ students doing unsupervised clinical work need DBS. At Year 12 you’ll always be with staff, so a DBS isn’t usually required for a few days. You will need parental consent for any healthcare setting visit, though.
What if I can’t find a dentist?
Don’t panic – be creative. You could observe a GP with dental interest, shadow a hygienist, or help in a care home. Any patient-facing or science environment is better than nothing. Then use online learning and local workshops to fill the gap. Show that you used available resources to learn about dentistry.