In our dental surgeon fact sheet, we take a brief look at the difficult but challenging path to this career. In France, students must complete 6 years of study to become a dental surgeon , and even more if they specialize. In this article, we describe them one by one.
Initial stages of medical training
Before starting specialized dental surgery studies in France, it is essential to obtain a baccalauréat, preferably in a scientific stream. You will then have to choose between two options:
- The Parcours Accès Santé Spécifique (PASS)
- Introduced in 2020 to replace the former Première Années Commune aux Études de Santé (PACES), the PASS is a year of study combining a health major with a miscellaneous minor. This structure not only diversifies skills, but also offers the possibility of reorientation.
- Students are assessed on the basis of continuous assessment and final exams.
- Students who are admitted to the program enter the health sector.
- Those who do not pass can reorient themselves towards their minor. They can retake the exam the following year.
- The PASS reduces the pressure of the single PACES entrance exam and diversifies students' skills.
- The Health Access License (L.AS)
- Introduced in 2020 to diversify the range of health study courses on offer, the L.AS is a course combining any major (law, humanities, economics, etc.) with a specific health minor (biology, physiology, etc.).
- At the end of the first, second or third year, and if they have passed the minimum requirements, L.AS students can apply for health studies. They then sit specific exams. Depending on their performance, they may be rejected or admitted to the second year of medical school.
- The L.AS allows students to follow a diversified pathway, encouraging skills and reorientation.
Access to dentistry studies can also be gained via the passerelleprocedure. Only students holding a master's degree, a doctorate, a medical auxiliary diploma or an engineering qualification are eligible.
General dentistry studies
After the PASS or L.AS (see above), studies to become a dental surgeon are divided into two parts:
- Diplôme de Formation Générale en Sciences Odontologiques (DFGSO): this three-year course includes theoretical instruction in anatomy, biology and pathology, and practical work in simulation. It includes the PASS or LAS, then the 2nd and 3rd years of dentistry. Students are responsible for purchasing their own equipment, although a loan system can be set up.
- Diplôme de Formation Approfondie en Sciences Odontologiques (DFASO): this phase focuses on more specialized teaching and supervised clinical internships. It corresponds to the 4th and 5th years of study in dentistry. Students are required to complete clinical internships in dental departments alongside theoretical courses.
- The 3ᵉ cycle is divided into two tracks:
- The short cycle: lasts one year and prepares students for all aspects of the profession through a 250-hour active internship directly with an experienced dental surgeon.
- The long cycle: under the internship system, this allows students to specialize in dentofacial orthopedics, oral medicine or oral surgery. It lasts 3 to 4 years.
In addition, these courses can be taken at foreign faculties, provided the country to which they belong is part of the European Union.
How much does it cost to become a dental surgeon?
Students are among the most precarious social classes, due to the lack of time to work and support themselves. In this context, the adventure of studying dentistry can prove difficult without a good understanding of the budget required to complete it.
In France, according to a report by the Union nationale des étudiants en chirurgie dentaire (UNECD), each year of training costs around €1,250. To this must be added daily living costs in the form of rent, food and transport, amounting to around €1,300 per month. In addition, students have to pay for the materials they need to study dentistry. This additional cost represents a total of around €1,300.
In total, each month of a dental student's life costs around €3,300! A heavy burden, which you need to keep in mind if you don't want to be caught unprepared.
Careers and opportunities in dental surgery
A dental surgeon's career is full of challenges and rewards. Throughout his or her life, this specialist can renew his or her daily routine through, among other things, training courses enabling him or her to specialize, collaborations, a change in status or even a commitment to teaching or research.
Whicheverjob offer a dental surgeon chooses, he or she will be faced with stimulating new challenges. Whether you decide to leave your practice to join a clinic, switch from salaried work to humanitarian missions, or supplement your activity with teledentistry, the many possibilities will enable you to break away from routine and open up opportunities conducive to your personal and professional development.
In short, studying to become a dentist is demanding, but rewarding. With a high potential for specialization and a wide range of practice locations, this career offers stimulating features to satisfy even the most ambitious.
If you enjoyed this article and would like to find out more, take a look at our dental surgeon salary sheet!
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Orthodontist M/F - Lyon 69
Employee
5000 - 15000 per month
Lyon 2e
Orthodontist Job - Lyon 69 A dental practice in Lyon, in the Rhône region, is looking for its new orthodontist M/F for a permanent contract. Terms and conditions - CDI - Full time 36h - 3 RTT per year for full time - Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 18:00 with 1h break - Part-time possible 18h or 27h without RTT The structure This dental clinic is located in Lyon's 2nd arrondissement, close to the Cours de Verdun and well served by public transport. The team is made up of a qualified dental assistant in the chair and one or two receptionists, whose duties include full third-party payment. Multi-site managers are accessible and offer coaching and training on request. All new recruits benefit from a personalized induction program and assessment. Correspondents in private practices and hospitals take charge of implantology and stomatology cases when necessary. Remuneration Retrocession of 29% of gross sales Our missions - Management and follow-up of orthodontic treatments - Placement and adjustment of brackets and ODF orthodontic appliances - Coordination with prosthetists and correspondents for implant and stomatological cases - Manage and organize patient schedules - Participation in integration and quality reviews The benefits - Comprehensive technical platform - Presence of a qualified dental assistant in the chair and a reception team - Excellent working atmosphere and accessible managers - Veasy business software and Doctolib diary - Meal vouchers 11.52 euros per day worked, 60% paid by the employer - Annual profit-sharing bonus in excess of 1,000 euros gross pro rata to working time Equipment - Airel Quetin K2 neon orthodontic chairs - Technodent and Sting orthodontic chairs - Medit i900 optical cameras - EndoPilot endodontic motor, latest model 2025, integrating Komet apex locator and burs - Radio Care Stream 2D panoramic - Silicone mixer - Leon ODF brackets - ODF gutters, no Invisalign - Biotech and Global D implantology fittings - Consumables supplied by GACD or Henri Schein - Standard sterilization and protocols with DASRI management - Logistical support from the facility's support services The little extra Lyon offers a lifestyle appreciated for its gastronomic and cultural richness, with the Presqu'île and its restaurants just a few minutes away, as well as the Parc de la Tête d'Or for your nature escapes. Profile required Orthodontist qualified in France or the European Union, registered or eligible for registration with the Ordre Contact us on: 06 67 76 60 76 or by e-mail at [email protected] Ad reference : 12360 Candidates from the European Union: Jober Group, leader in the integration of dental surgeons in France, supports you free of charge right up to the start of your activity: - Introduction to our partner teachers - B2 French language training - Follow-up for ONCD registration - Help in finding accommodation - Consultant dedicated to your support Find over 4,000 healthcare job offers on our Jober Group website and mobile application. Take advantage of a network of 1,000 partners throughout France, a team of recruitment experts at your service, and a totally free service that 99% of our candidates are satisfied with.
Dental surgeon - Rueil Malmaison 92
Employee
5000 - 15000 per month
Rueil-Malmaison
Dental Surgeon Job - Rueil Malmaison 92 A dental center located in Rueil-Malmaison, Hauts-de-Seine, is looking for its new dental surgeon M/F for a salaried contract. Terms and conditions - Permanent salaried contract - Part-time - Hours to be defined with management The structure This dental center is located in the immediate vicinity of the Rueil-Malmaison train station, with public transport within easy reach and free parking around ten minutes away. What's more, the facility was opened in 2021, and the manager has been with us for three years. The set includes four practices and an operating theatre. What's more, the current team comprises five multi-skilled practitioners and three dental assistants working in pairs, with a collaborative working atmosphere and a strong spirit of mutual support. Remuneration - Retrocession of 27% to 30% gross of sales - 30% from 3 years' experience Duties - Daily general practice covering consultations and routine care - Perform endodontics and manage complex cases using Reciproc - Perform surgical procedures and implants for patients - Follow-up of treatment plans and coordination with dental assistants - Collaborate with the center manager and participate in clinical exchanges - Manage and organize patient schedules The benefits - Complete technical platform including Cone Beam and optical camera - Four surgeries and one operating room - Paired team of dental assistants and dedicated secretariat - Friendly, collaborative working environment - Loyal patient base and generally full schedule - Nearby public transport and parking facilities - Short prosthetic lead times via partner laboratory Our equipment - Optical camera - Reciproc for endodontics - Biotech implants - Cone Beam - In-office dental chairs The little extra Rueil-Malmaison offers a pleasant living environment, with the Château de Malmaison and its historic gardens nearby, as well as direct access to the business hubs of western Paris, ideal for reconciling professional life with cultural outings. Profile required Dental surgeon qualified in France or the European Union, registered or eligible for registration. Contact us on: 06 67 76 60 76 or by e-mail at [email protected] Ad reference : 12356 Find over 4,000 healthcare job offers on our Jober Group website and mobile application. Benefit from a network of 1,000 partners throughout France, a team of recruitment experts at your service, and a totally free service that 99% of our candidates are satisfied with. Candidates from the European Union: Jober Group, leader in the integration of dentists in France, supports you free of charge right up to the start of your business - Contact with our partner teachers - French language training (B2) - Follow-up for registration with the French Dental Association (ONCD) - Help in finding accommodation - Consultant dedicated to your support
Dental surgeon - Agen 47
Employee
5000 - 15000 per month
Agen
Dental Surgeon Job - Agen 47 A dental practice in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, is actively seeking a dental surgeon M/F on a salaried contract. Terms and conditions - OPEN-ENDED CONTRACT - Part-time - Wednesday to Saturday The structure This is a network of three dental establishments in the Lot-et-Garonne region, between Bordeaux and Toulouse. In addition, the Agen site has a five-chair dental unit and a surgical block, with 7 dentists on duty. The region boasts an organized and stable team of practitioners, with dedicated chairside assistants and secretaries handling all administrative tasks. The operation favors working in pairs, and decision-making is collegial. Remuneration - Retrocession Implantology 25% gross of sales - Retrocession Care 30% gross of sales - Retrocession Other procedures 22% gross of sales - Retrocession ODF 32% gross of sales - On average 29.7% to 30% gross of sales and CPI Missions - General practice and comprehensive patient care - Implantology procedures in accordance with Straussman protocol - Conservative procedures, endodontics and extractions - Prosthesis fabrication and follow-up in coordination with local laboratories - Working in pairs with a dedicated chairside assistant - Participation in clinical meetings and collegial decision-making The benefits - Five-chair platform and surgical suite - Full schedule over several weeks, with flow of new patients - Dedicated chair-side assistant guarantees efficient clinical pairing - Dedicated secretary to handle administrative tasks - Stable, low-turnover teams, with support for the integration of young practitioners - Freedom to choose from several local laboratories - Participative management and collegial decision-making Our equipment - Straussman implant system with protocol training - TRIOS 5/6 and MEDIT 700 optical cameras - GBT column for endodontics - Top-of-the-range SINIUS chair with exploration camera - RECIPROC endo motor - Endo motor with apex locator - Sirona - Acteon P5 tabletop scaler - Cone Beam - Customized cassette organization for each practitioner The little extra Agen enjoys a pleasant geographic location between Bordeaux and Toulouse, with the Garonne Canal nearby for strolling and a network of local shops and markets appreciated by the locals. The region is also ideal for family activities and getaways in the southwest. Profile required Dental surgeon qualified in France or the European Union, registered or eligible for registration. Contact us on: 06 67 76 60 76 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Ad reference : 12244 Candidates from the European Union: Jober Group, leader in the integration of dental surgeons in France, supports you free of charge right up to the start of your activity: - Introduction to our partner teachers - French language training (B2) - Support in registering with the French Dental Association (ONCD) - Help with finding accommodation - Consultant dedicated to your support Find over 4,000 healthcare job offers on our Jober Group website and mobile application. Benefit from a network of 1,000 partners throughout France, a team of recruitment experts at your service, and a totally free service that 99% of our candidates are satisfied with.
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