Most of us believe that a dentist’s daily job is fighting cavities and plaque – managing oral hygiene for those of us too lazy to brush our teeth twice. But, today a dentist’s job means so much more than that. An increasing number of people, who want that Taylor Lautner or Julia Robert smile, have created the cosmetic dentistry industry. There are other specialisations including paediatric dentistry, periodontics, and endodontics. In other words, there is plenty of room for specialisation.

A postgraduate degree in dentistry is usually two - three years long. This is further followed by specialist training to move into professional practice. What’s more degrees in dentistry offer great value for money. Got you thinking?

Here are 4 great choices for a master’s degree in dentistry:

1. The University of Hong Kong:  Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics
   
   Ranked first on the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2018), The University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) Faculty of Dentistry is a premier centre for postgraduate dental training. The University of Hong Kong offers a range of programs for prospective dentists.
   
   The Master of Dental Surgery in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics is a three-year long, full-time program. The tuition cost of the full-time program is approximately HK$ 161000 for international students (2016-17). Applicants must have a BDS degree or an equivalent qualification with a minimum of two years of general dentistry practice.
   
   For financial support from the university, visit here.
   
    
2. King’s College London: Master of Clinical Dentistry (MClinDent) in Prosthodontics
   
   King’s College London’s Dental Institute is one of Europe’s leading centres for graduate specialist skills in clinical dentistry. The Prosthodontics MClinDent offered by King’s College London is a three-year long program for international students.
   
   Nearly 60% of the program is dedicated to clinical experience. The program intake is only 8 students per year, enabling comprehensive mentoring and guidance for students. The tuition cost of the full-time program is around £48,900 per year.
   
   To apply, students must have a dental qualification plus at least two years of post-qualification experience. If you need financial aid from the University, check out the Commonwealth Scholarships offered by the UK Government or visit here.
   
    
3. University of Michigan: Master of Science (MS) in Orthodontics
   
   Established in 1923, this is the oldest degree granting program in the world.
   
   The Master of Science in Orthodontics is a combination of a three-year long teaching, research and clinical experience. The tuition cost of the full-time program is around US $14,899 per term. Applicants require a BDS degree or an equivalent qualification with a minimum of two years of general dentistry practice as program requirements. For financial support from the university, visit here.
   
    
4. University of Amsterdam: Master of Science (MSc) in Periodontology
   
   The Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), which offers study programmes from both the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit (VU University) Amsterdam, is amongst the top five research institutes in dentistry across the world.
   
   Its Department of Orthodontics offers an MSc in Periodontology program is a three year long, full-time program. The tuition cost of the full-time program is around €21,500 per yearand has similar minimum requirements as the above-mentioned programs.
   
   For financial support from the university, visit here.