‘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
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