I am an overseas-trained dentist who grew up in a small town far from the British Isles. From a young age, inspired by English TV shows and films, I dreamed of coming to the UK to serve its people and build a life here. This aspiration has guided both my personal and professional journey ever since.

After completing my schooling, I pursued a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from 2016 to 2022 at a prestigious university. Following this, I moved to the UK to undertake a postgraduate degree, earning an MSc in Advanced General Dental Practice (AGDP), with a PG certificate awarded in September 2023.

During my education, I applied to become a dental care professional (DCP) in the UK (February 2023). The process was extremely challenging – requiring hundreds of hours of paperwork, thousands of pounds in fees, and countless calls to the GDC. What should have taken three to four months ultimately took two and a half years due to rule changes affecting overseas dentists.

While waiting for my application, I worked in various roles – including warehouse operative and food and beverage associate – where I was promoted to team lead within months and received awards for my contributions.

In February 2024, I moved to Scotland to work as a trainee dental nurse. Over time, I advanced from dental nurse to receptionist and ultimately to dental therapist within the same clinic, gaining experience across multiple cities and communities. This diverse background gives me a unique perspective on the UK dental industry and the challenges faced by overseas-trained professionals.

As a dental nurse, I helped prepare and close surgeries, assisted patients with mobility needs, ensured patient and staff comfort, and kept the practice running smoothly.

As a receptionist, I coordinated emergency appointments, organised schedules with dentists, and served as the first point of contact for patients. This role allowed me to connect with patients, particularly elderly members of the diaspora, offering them comfort, companionship, and reassurance. Many returned to the practice looking forward to our conversations.

As a dental therapist, I have delivered high-quality care with near 100% patient satisfaction, reflected in multiple five-star reviews and testimonials. I have successfully helped anxious patients overcome dental fear, encouraging regular attendance. I recall a patient who, upon learning I might not be her clinician next time, was moved to tears and expressed heartfelt gratitude – a moment that reflects the trust and care I strive to provide.

Despite my dedication and contributions, the pathway for overseas-trained DCPs has been fraught with challenges, from prolonged application processes to complex regulatory hurdles. I have also cleared my LDS Part 1 exams and am awaiting Part 2, which, as many know, is extremely competitive.

I remain deeply grateful to the UK, its people, and its institutions for the opportunities I have received. My request, and that of many fellow DCPs, is simple: reconsider the rules that affect our ability to continue contributing to this country. We are committed, hardworking, and devoted to the care of the public. Are we truly considered a nuisance deserving of exclusion despite our dedication and love for this nation?

I am a dentist from India. A title that once brought me pride, purpose, and identity. But when we decided to move to the UK in pursuit of a better life – for our child, for our future – I had no idea that this journey would not just test my knowledge, but my resilience, dignity, and mental strength.

In March 2023, I submitted my documents for dental therapist registration with the General Dental Council. At that time, it felt like the beginning of a new chapter – a small spark of hope that my years of education and clinical experience wouldn’t go to waste.

But that spark was dim. Weeks turned to months with no update. Meanwhile, I made the difficult decision to enrol in a master’s in healthcare leadership at Salford University – a course not just for education, but as a route to enter the country. The financial burden was heavy, but we convinced ourselves: ‘It will be worth it.’

We landed in the UK in September 2023 – me, my husband, and our little child. No family, no network, no safety net. Just dreams packed in suitcases, and a quiet fear that things might not go as planned.

We started from zero. I juggled my master’s course with part-time jobs – cleaning, care work, anything to keep us going. My husband took up full-time work, often coming home late and exhausted. Our child started school, learning a new language, a new system, missing grandparents and the comfort of familiarity.

Meanwhile, I was drowning – not just in assignments, but in loneliness, self-doubt, and sheer exhaustion. There were days I stayed up the entire night writing papers, only to go to work in the morning with swollen eyes and a numb heart. No one saw the tears behind the academic success. No one saw the fear that I might never get to wear my white coat again.

Then, after months of silence, a caseworker finally contacted me about my dental care professional application. But instead of approval, it came with a long list of additional requirements – CPD trainings, Basic Life Support certification, IELTS, and more.

Each of these wasn’t just a checkbox. They were expenses we could barely afford. I remember paying for those courses while skipping meals or putting off essential expenses for our child. I remember redoing IELTS, the anxiety before the results, the sinking feeling of being stuck in an endless loop.

Still, I submitted everything. I kept going.

Finally, in May 2025, over two years after I began this journey, I received my dental therapist registration. There were no celebrations. Just relief. Just quiet gratitude – and a deep, exhausted breath.

By then, I had completed my master’s degree, switched to the graduate route visa, and had finally started working in the field I had trained so hard for. I could see a future again – the possibility of applying for a skilled worker visa (tier 2), building stability, and reclaiming the career I once had to leave behind.

But then, like a storm without warning, came the immigration white paper.

Suddenly, everything changed – again. New rules, stricter regulations, and uncertainty replaced the hope we had only just begun to feel. Once more, the ground shifted beneath our feet.

This is not just a story.

It is the truth of countless migrant professionals like me. People who leave behind careers, identities, family, and comfort to rebuild their lives in a foreign land. It’s a story of silent sacrifices, of smiles worn over anxiety, of children who grow up watching their parents survive instead of thrive.

It’s a story of faith. Not in systems or promises, but in ourselves and in each other.

We are still here. Still standing. Still hoping that all of this – all the pain, the paperwork, the sleepless nights – will one day mean something.

I worked so hard for two years to become a dental hygienist, even paying a lot of money for my registration. But it’s been tough finding work in Scotland. Finally, a clinic loved my work and wanted to sponsor me, but then new rules made it impossible for them to do it in time.

My visa is running out in 2026, and the clinic is struggling, so I might lose my job. I’ve been trying to find work all over the UK, but nobody wants to hire me because my visa is almost up. I even tried to become a dental nurse again, but that would mean giving up my hard-earned hygienist license.

Now, I have no shifts, no job offers, and it feels like those two years of effort were for nothing. I can’t even take the exam that might help me. I’m feeling really lost and hopeless.

It’s not just my dental hygiene skills that I bring to the community and I see that role as deeply intertwined with my work in oral health. A lot of people don’t realise how much anxiety and fear can be tied to dental visits. Some have had bad experiences in the past, others are embarrassed about the state of their teeth, and many are just generally nervous about the pain or discomfort they expect.

I make it a point to create a safe and supportive environment for my patients. I listen to their concerns, validate their feelings, and use techniques I’ve learned in therapy to help them relax and feel more in control. This might involve simple breathing exercises, mindfulness techniques, or just having an open and honest conversation about what they’re feeling. My goal is to help them overcome their dental anxiety and build a positive relationship with oral care.

If I were to leave the community, there would be a real gap in this kind of holistic care. Patients who rely on my calming presence and therapeutic approach might avoid dental care altogether, leading to more serious oral health problems down the line. Plus, the community would miss out on someone who understands the connection between oral health and mental wellbeing, and who actively works to bridge that gap. It’s about more than just cleaning teeth; it’s about caring for the whole person.

As an international dentist, I came to the UK to advance my skills and contribute to the dental system. I pursued a master’s in advanced general dental practice, inspired by the UK’s reputation for excellence and the chance to work under the NHS. Leaving my career and life behind in my home country, I arrived hopeful to help patients struggling with access to dental care.

This journey demanded immense sacrifice – years of savings and emotional resilience. The master’s program honed my clinical skills to work as dentist and dental therapist. I dreamt of registering with the GDC and joining a practice. But in July 2025, my plans crumbled. The government removed SOC 3213 from the visa eligibility list, barring me from sponsorship as a dental therapist.

Despite my training and the NHS’s growing waiting lists, I can’t work here. This rule feels like a betrayal of my efforts and the patients I’m ready to serve. The impact is crushing. I face uncertainty and heartbreak, my degree useless for a UK career. Many international students share this struggle. The UK needs dental professionals, yet these rules push us away.

I urge policymakers to reinstate SOC 3213 or create pathways for graduates like me. Let my story spark change for professionals and patients alike.

I am currently on my post-study work visa (PSW), which is expiring in January 2026. My clinic has sponsorship license but our solicitor was adamant that they need registration to provide sponsorship. I gave my dental nurse registration exams and everything was fine, because I was due to get my sponsorship during this time period if the rule change hadn’t come in.

When the white paper rule was released I had just completed my exams, and was waiting to receive my GDC registration number. Even still, when this was announced, my employer tried to see if something could be done. I tried contacting solicitors and one of them was very kind to help me as the major issue was that we did not have COS allocation.

He said we could try doing like a priority service for COS allocation, but when the solicitor accessed the sponsorship management system, he realised my employer is not in the premium category. I requested my employer to write to Home Office; they did it and I don’t think any response came through.

To be honest, all my hopes were gone because I tried to do the maximum in that limited time period. I was applying for many dental nurse jobs with my registration coming in soon, but companies said that since I did not have my GDC number yet, I am still considered a trainee dental nurse.

I feel bad that by this November, I will be having two years of my dental nurse experience plus the registration. It feels like it has been a waste – because sponsorship was assured to me I did not think about switching jobs.

As an overseas dentist in the UK, I feel there is no consideration – especially with our field facing a shortage in this country. What’s the point of us struggling through all this? Everyone wishes to complete the overseas registration exam (ORE) and get a good clinical experience hence works as dental hygienist or dental therapist, or as a dental nurse.

To be honest, being a dental nurse does not pay well yet we survive only because a visa is the priority. I feel really shattered about everything. I hope the government can take a fair side and give some consideration to the people who are within the country, pay their taxes and live legally.