What is Dental Foundation Training?

Dental Foundation Training is a one-year vocational training programme after Dental school. Its purpose is to “enhance clinical and administrative competence and promote high standards through relevant postgraduate training and meet the needs of general dental practice in the NHS” (Royal College of Surgeons).

Foundation Dentists (FDs) spend a year in approved practices undertaking training. It introduces graduate dentists to general dental practice under the supervision of an experienced dentist ‘educational supervisor’ (ES). In some practices, two dentists share this role. The ESs provide supervision and help where needed and deliver tutorials.

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Dental Foundation Training Site Recruitment for September 2026

Applications are now open for dental foundation training practices in the London and KSS regions. Application guidance can be accessed via the corresponding links below. Clicking the link will download a PDF file on your device. 

The London and Kent, Surrey and Sussex regions have separate recruitment guidance documents.

London and KSS Regions Key Dates
Applications open	Currently Open
Applications close (09:00 am)	1st April 2026
Application outcome notification	No later than 1st May 2026
Posts commence	1st September 2026

 

If you have specific questions pertaining to the programme and application process, please contact the relevant Dental Foundation Associate Dean.

For London 12-month programme - Davesh Patel, davesh.patel3@nhs.net 

For London 24-month programme and Dental Therapy Foundation - Jason Stokes, jason.stokes@nhs.net

For KSS - Peter Mauthe, peter.mauthe@nhs.net

London application guidance can be accessed here:

London New Site Application Guidance (Clicking the link will open another tab on your browser)

London Existing Site Application Guidance (Clicking the link will open another tab on your browser)

KSS application guidance can be accessed here:

KSS New Site Application Guidance (Clicking the link will open another tab on your browser)

KSS Existing Site Application Guidance (Clicking the link will open another tab on your browser)

 

Please submit your application via this link: APPLICATION FORM

 

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DFT Programme Details

FD’s work a 35-hour week, are salaried. Those on a 12 month programme are employed by our Lead employer - Royal London NHS Foundation Trust.  Those on a 24 month programme are employed by their accredited training practice. All groups meet regularly for educational study days.

Educational Supervisors and FD’s are formed locally into  schemes comprising of 14-16 FD’s and their Educational Supervisors. Schemes are managed by Training Programme Directors.

The FDs written contract of employment with the Educational Supervisor/Training Practice (The Trainee's Contract) is nationally agreed.

Upon satisfactory completion of Dental Foundation Training, dentists receive Certificates of Completion signed by the Postgraduate Dental Dean. Dentists who possess such Certificates are allocated NHS dental performer list numbers, upon application, which enable them to work in the General Dental Services.

The Dental team led by the Associate Dental Deans for Foundation Training, Davesh Patel & Peter Mauthe, are committed to helping dental foundation trainees across the region achieve their full potential as dentists, and to prepare them for a fulfilling and rewarding career in dentistry.

Training Programme Directors (TPD’s):

Each Dental Foundation Training Programme Director is responsible for different aspects of training within a given area, our TPDs are:

• Sushil John
• Piotr Zukowski
• Parul Patel
• Sharon Biant
• Tarik Shembesh
• Ahmed Babikir
• Subhan Tauheed
• Raj Mahendran. 
• Tauseef Mahmood
• Andrew Bayross
• Kaxa Patel
• Christian Small