‘People in my situation just want to work…But right now, it just feels impossible’: Mariia Chalova opens up about her overseas registration exam (ORE) experience and why overseas-trained dentists need a more available pathway into UK dentistry.
After 10 years of experience as a root canal specialist in Ukraine, I unfortunately needed to leave my country because of the war. Here in the UK, I had to start my career again from nothing.
For now, I’m registered with GDC as a dental nurse. Dentistry is what I like to do, it really is my calling. When I first arrived in the UK I had other jobs but I missed dentistry. That’s how I came to be a dental nurse, just to be in that environment.
One thing this experience has shown me is that dental nurses are very underpaid. You study so hard for a job that is mentally and physically difficult only to be paid minimum wage.
I thought I would easily be able to work and study at the same time but the dental nursing course is quite intense. I’m so exhausted by qualifying as a dental nurse that I haven’t tried to register as a dentist yet.
Losing motivation
Up to this point, it feels like I have spent all of my time studying for another profession. There are positives to this – I know much more about English dentistry now. But I do feel that could be achieved another way. It’s hard to stay motivated for the next stage when you feel stuck and don’t know how to progress. I just remind myself that I’m doing it to get back to the work I love and the salary I should be earning.
I am trying not to think about the unfairness and just play the game. But sometimes there are moments when you are just really upset.
People in my situation just want to work. We want to do our thing, the job we trained for. But right now, it just feels impossible.
Whatever I do, I feel stuck in the same situation. I’m going to a job every day that I don’t enjoy as much as my own chosen profession.
But I can do much more. This country has a shortage of dentists; it’s so obvious. I work across a few practises and the dentists are all really tired from working overtime. They are struggling and patients are struggling because they can’t get treatment for their pain.
I have watched people come to the practice in pain and nobody is able to see them because they all have patients. I could help but I’m not allowed.
Colleagues will often ask for my clinical advice, how we would handle a situation in Ukraine for example. They don’t really understand why I’m still working as a dental nurse and I find it hard to explain myself.
What needs to change
There are a few things that might help. Firstly, some more specific courses for dentists to learn the differences between dentistry in their own country and in the UK.
There could be an initial exam to identify areas that you’re less strong in. Then you could be sent on a course to improve in that specific area – it could even include English language and knowledge of UK laws.
I’ve also heard a lot about provisional registration lately. On paper, it sounds really good – you can get a job in a hospital right away. In real life, it feels impossible to achieve.
I’ve seen on the GDC website that it is being explored but there’s no information about when or how I could do it. Most of the hospitals I’ve spoken to haven’t even heard of temporary registration for dentists.
Even if there was a one-year course on the specifics of UK dentistry – it sounds wrong to have to study again but I know if it made the process shorter, I’d do it. If there was a guaranteed pathway to getting back into practice, people might not be stuck in the same place for so long.
If that was successful, patients would be happy to have more dentists and the dentists would be happy to get back to dentistry – everyone wins.
Next generation
A dentist who I know just came to the UK and he asked what my advice from my own experience would be. I told him to do what he needs to do and to get a psychotherapist. I am trying not to think about the unfairness and just play the game. But sometimes there are moments when you are just really upset.
When I finished the long process of qualifying to be a dental nurse, I felt nothing. Was I happy? No. Was I sad? No. It was a step forward but I wouldn’t want to work as a dental nurse my whole life.
That is a shame in itself because maybe I’m taking someone else’s spot in the nursing exams and the profession who really wants to be a dental nurse.
At the end of the day, I can’t really complain. I really appreciate this country for giving me shelter, and I’m so happy that I’m safe and I don’t need to be at war. But I still disagree with some of the rules that are in place. Now that I’m halfway through the process I don’t think I can change much for myself, but I do hope things will be easier for the next generation of dentists who come to the UK.
Make the ORE booking system fairer for dentists
Signatures (88%)
Goal
Make the overseas registration exam (ORE) booking system fairer for dentists
We call on the General Dental Council (GDC) to reform the booking system for the overseas registration exam (ORE) to make it fairer and more supportive of internationally-trained dentists.
Currently, securing a place for ORE Part 1 and Part 2 is like getting festival tickets — the system favours ‘fastest-finger first’, with how long a dentist has been trying to book a place carrying no weight. Dentists must repeatedly refresh the webpage and compete in a stressful, luck-based race to book an exam. We feel this approach:
– Penalises perseverance: Those who have already invested time, money and effort in previous attempts are not given priority
– Causes unnecessary stress: Candidates face months or years of uncertainty while waiting for an exam slot
– Wastes talent: Skilled overseas dentists are unable to practise – even as the UK faces critical dental workforce shortages.
We propose a fairer system where priority is given to candidates who have previously attempted to book the ORE – allowing the process to be truly first come, first served.
Reforming the booking system is an effective short-term step that can be implemented quickly to relieve pressure on candidates and the dental workforce.
We acknowledge that broader, complementary action is also necessary, including the continued growth of available ORE places, and investment in UK dental schools and training capacities.
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