[Nicola]

Hi All

My partner is a dentist and we were wondering if there was any dentists out there who has already emigrated or is in the process of emigrating to NZ from the UK.

How have you found the experience working in NZ in comparison with the UK. Did you have to sit the exams to get registered or do they accept UK registered dentists without the exams.

Cheers

[veronica]

Can't answer that but but can say that dentist here are very expensive so it should be good for you, have never seen so many adults with broken teeth etc, that they cant afford to get fixed.

[Plymgirl]

Hi there I was wondering if Nicola is still using this site and if so has she got any info for dentists coming over - OH is one and looking for info on what to do and where to start looking for work and how high is the demand for dentists. Thanx so much
Zelda

[macuser]

I am a UK qualified dentist going through the process of registration and immigration at the moment. Planning to arrive in NZ this year.

If you or your partner want to pm me I will try to help if I can.

Regards

Helen

[Plymgirl]

Hi ther Helen thanx for responding. I spoke to other half and he said that it would be helpful if we could email each other. The only problem is I am new to this forum thing and do not know how to send PMs so if you could give me some instructions that would be great. Just having one a moment. Thanx for your help. regards Zelda

[mossum]

I was a senior nurse/ practice manager & had loved being in dentistry - 12 years (mixed NHS/pvt multi dentist practice's ) - I lasted 6/12 in NZ . So disillusioned I've had a total career change .

I have to say I found the attitude of dentists here , to their employees frankly disgusting & the standard of dentistry seems equally appallingly bad . No real quals needed as assistants & no desire to have staff trained (the lazy dogs would then want more $$$),no post certification qualifications, lax attitudes , pinned GI restorations left right & center , lots of very old fashioned practice .Perhaps I've just been unlucky - but i was offered many positions & took the one that appeared to be most progressive .

Won't say more on a public forum - but I'm happy for anyone to PM me & I'll tell them my frank opinions.

vic

[macuser]

Plymgirl, I have pm'd you.

Helen

[kevin&lorna]

Hiya, I'm a dental hygienist hopefully going over this year with the family and got my job offers etc etc. Theres a great guy in Red Beach who is a kiwi and quite frank on info of other practitioners which was fantastic helping me decide on which practice to go for. If you want to pm me I could pass on his email to you and see what you can gleen from him. Good luck and happy new year, lorna

[ablears001]

Hello. Long-time lurker decloaking! My dad's a dentist who moved to NZ 9 years ago from Wales. He loves it. I know when he first moved he found settling in Auckland (Albany) difficult due to the pace of work and what he saw as a lack of preventative dentistry. He's now got a practice in Tauranga and is very happy there. He gets to spend time with his patients and he's said he's now using techniques and materials ahead of the UK.

His old nurse from Wales made the move years ago and by coincidence they're working together again (that was a blast from the past on my last visit)!

So it's not all bad...

Anthony

[Nicola]

Hi there I was wondering if Nicola is still using this site and if so has she got any info for dentists coming over - OH is one and looking for info on what to do and where to start looking for work and how high is the demand for dentists. Thanx so much
Zelda

Hi, Peter here - Nicola's other half.

Been here two and a half years and have settled in well. Still in the same practice.

I found my post via the NZDA website, here -

http://www.nzda.org.nz/pub/index.php?id=37

contact was via email and phone and my job was all sorted before we left.

DCNZ were also very helpfull and lots of information on their site as well.

The demand for dentists varies depending on area of course but even here in Hawkes Bay where there are already lots there is still a demand for new ones.

When I arrived I went on a weeks course at Otago dental school. This is primarily for those dentists from abroad to prepare them for the exams but I went along just to see how things were here and I found it all pretty similar to the Uk. CPD is also compulsory here, just as the uk although you will probably have to travel to get to courses unless based in Auckland Wellington or Chch.

Dentistry is pretty well all private here of course - I see maybe 12 to 15 patients a day now as opposed to 30 to 40 back in the national health.

And yes, compared to the wages here dentistry is expensive for the average person.

You'll know all about the application process by now, I suppose but if you have any questions just ask.

peter

[macuser]

Thank you for your post Peter. Just wondering if you have experience of the DCNZ interview required on arrival in NZ?

Could you let me know a bit about it please? Is it a friendly chat whilst they check your paperwork or a more formal affair?

Where did you attend the interview? They have given me a list of contacts in different areas.

You can pm me if you prefer.

Thank you

Helen

[Nicola]

Hi Helen

I went to Wellington and was interviewed by the person I had already been dealing with and one other person.

Just a friendly chat really, to check that I really was the person on my paperwork. ( I did have a suit on though, as I was not sure what it was to be either ! ) I was a bit worried about my Hep B immunisation status as I only had a printout from my uk doctor and I thought it had to be done here, but again they were fine with what I had.

Was all over in about 15 minutes I think.

We were in Hawkes Bay so I Just flew down to Wellington, but I suppose it depends on where you are.

You will need to allow some time for your practicing certificate to come through before you start work as well, it was a bit touch and go for mine I remember cos my principal asked me to start a couple of weeks earlier than planned

peter

[macuser]

Thanks Peter. The lady at Wellington DCNZ has been very helpful to me too.

Thanks for the info. Really helpful.

Helen

[Nicola]

No problems

Good Luck, and if you or the op has anymore questions just ask away.

Have just remembered, there was an agency as well that I registered with but they were more for people coming over to do locum work and have an extended holiday. Cannot remember the name ( although I think they advertise in the BDJ ) but could find out if anybody wants.

peter

[Nicola]

ps just thought - if any of you find yourselves in hawkes bay feel free to look me up.

peter