Cultivating Dental Excellence:

Associate Development Programme

Build a strong foundation and increase your skills by working with Saint Visage Dental Group

The Associate Development Programme is a three-year training programme focusing on developing inexperienced graduates into successful clinicians through education, clinical supervision, hands-on training and ongoing support.

Overview of Associate Development Programme

As a dental group focused on heavily investing its time, energy and resources into our associates. It is a major priority for us to ensure the clinicians we choose to work with understand the value of what we are offering and have their objectives aligned with our own philosophy – we expect nothing less than those aspiring to be the best.

Consequently, all applications we receive will be reviewed and assessed to determine the individual suitability via an online meeting with our management team.

Upon approval for applying, the next step will be a clinical interview.

The clinical interview is held to help us better understand the existing dental knowledge of those applying. This allows us to ensure that each person has a minimum standard of knowledge ensuring potential patients are not at risk.

As our training programmes are highly competitive, the clinical interview can be used as an indication to help identify which candidates may be more suitable.

To officially enrol, you must pass the Eligibility Assessment and Clinical Interview.

We work closely with the GDC due to the sheer number of applications we submit. We fully understand their application process and are up to date with their guidelines. This allows us to provide dedicated assistance with the application process for each associate.

Saint Visage Dental Group will provide full legal assistance to each associate ensuring they have all the necessary documentation required to submit their visa application. The full cost of the Home Office and Legal fees will be covered by the clinic.

We will provide step by step support to all associates applying for their registration on the NHS Performers List ensuring minimal delays.

Induction training begins as soon as you arrive in the UK, and it’s a crucial step in laying the clinical foundations for your mentorship journey.
During this time, you’ll benefit from personalised, one-on-one guidance and support covering the basics of general dentistry.

The induction period typically spans from four to eight weeks, allowing you ample time to familiarise yourself with UK Dentistry.

During these weeks, you will have the opportunity to work and learn from a senior clinician before performing treatments on patients, including but not limited to dental hygiene and simple restorative procedures.

This hands-on experience is designed to help you develop the basic skills and knowledge necessary to prepare for seeing real patients.

Before starting the Mentorship, we require each associate to have a comprehensive understanding of the following:
  • GDC Guidelines
  • NHS Guidelines
  • Drug Prescriptions.
At Saint Visage Dental Group, we understand the bitter truth that being overly academic or possessing superior clinical techniques alone do not translate to being an overall successful clinician; skills such as communication and time efficiency are equally important and often underlooked.  Mentors at Saint Visage Dental Group are carefully selected high-value clinicians, eager to share their expertise and knowledge. They serve as ideal role models for learning, particularly for dentists lacking real-world experience. Through our facilitated mentorships, aspiring professionals can fast-track their journey towards becoming high-performing and high-earning experts. Theoretical:
  • NHS Claims and Codes
  • Clinical Notes
  • Referrals and Claims
  • Interpreting X-Rays
  • Decontamination
  • Dental Materials, Handpieces and Burs 
  • Hygiene
  • Fillings
  • Root Canal Therapy
  • Steps for Extractions
  • Diagnosing Patients
  • Treatment Planning
  • Medically Compromised Patients
  • Dealing with Dental Laboratories
Social:
  • Managing Patient Expectations
  • Understanding Patients
  • Building Relationships with Patients
  • Dealing with Difficult Patients
  • Primary Complaints of Patient
  • Providing Treatment Options
  • How to Communicate with Patients
  • Promoting Private Treatments when Suitable
Clinical:
  • Developing Basic Skills in General Dentistry
  • Holding Handpieces
  • Removing Caries
  • Developing X-Rays
  • Administering LA / Nerve Blocks
  • Handling Dental Emergencies
  • Easing Patients in Pain
  • Locating Canals
  • Extraction Techniques
  • Taking Successful Impressions
  • Making Successful Dentures
  • Removing Bridges
  • Crown Preparations  / Bridges
  • Introduction to Paediatric Dentistry
  • Observing Complex Cases
  • Digital Dentistry

Expected Earnings: £50,000 to £70,000

Including but not limited to:

  • Developing Intermediate Skills in General Dentistry:

    Advance your foundational skills, focusing on procedures like precise tooth extractions, comprehensive oral examinations, and proficient local anaesthesia administration. Dentists also deepen their knowledge of diagnostic methods and treatment planning for common oral health issues.

  • Improving Restorative Techniques:

    Enhance your restorative expertise, mastering techniques for dental fillings, crowns, and bridges. This involves perfecting tooth preparation methods, selecting suitable materials, and honing aesthetic considerations to achieve seamless and long-lasting restorations.

  • Expanding Skills with Dental Prosthetics:

    You will get a chance to dive into comprehensive training on creating and fitting dental prosthetics, including dentures and partial dentures. They learn to take precise impressions, analyse occlusion, and craft customised prosthetics for optimal function and comfort.

  • Learning Quadrant Dentistry:

    Our trainees specialise in quadrant-based dentistry, providing efficient care by treating one-fourth of the mouth at a time. This approach allows focused attention on procedures such as cleanings, fillings, and minor extractions within a specific quadrant.

  • Introduction to Cosmetic Dentistry:

    Explore the realm of cosmetic dentistry, delving into smile enhancement techniques like teeth whitening, enamel contouring, and direct composite bonding. You will understand the significance of smile aesthetics and how cosmetic treatments can be integrated into comprehensive care.

  • Exploring Composite Bonding / Veneers:

    Take into account the intricacies of cosmetic enhancements by specifically studying composite bonding and veneer application. You also gain hands-on skills in tooth reshaping, shade matching, and precise bonding techniques to achieve natural-looking and durable smile transformations.

  • Upselling Bigger Treatment Plans:

    Our training programme puts emphasis on learning effective communication strategies to present comprehensive treatment plans that encompass various procedures. This involves explaining the benefits, potential outcomes, and long-term advantages of more extensive treatment options, fostering patient understanding and trust.

  • Simple Wisdom Teeth Extractions:

    You will acquire expertise in extracting simple wisdom teeth through hands-on training. Also gain proficiency in pre-operative assessment, surgical techniques, and post-operative care for straightforward wisdom teeth extractions.

  • Assisting with Complex Cases:

    Collaborate on complex dental cases, working alongside specialists and surgeons. You will develop skills in managing intricate treatment sequences, patient coordination, and effective communication within a multidisciplinary dental team.

  • Developing Intermediate Social Skills:

    Focus on improving your interpersonal and communication skills to build stronger patient relationships and enhance their overall practice experience. This involves refining active listening techniques, empathetic patient interactions, and effective chairside communication. You also learn to address patient concerns, educate them about treatment options, and create a welcoming and comfortable environment that promotes trust and positive rapport.

Expected Earnings: £70,000 to £90,000

Including but not limited to:


  • Developing Advanced Skills in General Dentistry:

    Further elevate your skills in general dentistry, focusing on advanced techniques such as complex tooth extractions, advanced oral examinations, and the management of more intricate dental procedures. This phase involves honing diagnostic acumen, fine-tuning treatment plans, and optimising patient care.

  • Expanding Skills in Endodontics:

    Learn the field of endodontics, mastering intricate root canal procedures, advanced instrumentation, and the application of cutting-edge technologies like for improved treatment precision and success rates.

  • Expanding Skills in Periodontics:

    Advance your periodontal skills, encompassing both surgical and non-surgical interventions along with soft tissue manipulation. Acquire proficiency in managing complex periodontal conditions, performing advanced soft tissue grafting, and utilising regenerative therapies.

  • Interdisciplinary Treatment Planning:

    Build expertise in comprehensive interdisciplinary treatment planning. Learn to collaborate effectively with specialists from various dental disciplines, creating cohesive treatment strategies that address diverse patient needs and achieve optimal outcomes.

  • In-Depth Training in Digital Dentistry and Intraoral Scanning:

    Participants embark on a comprehensive journey into the realm of digital dentistry, exploring cutting-edge technologies and techniques that revolutionise modern dental practice. The focus of this module is on mastering intraoral scanning, a pivotal component of the digital dentistry landscape.

  • Invisalign:

    Gain proficiency in utilising Invisalign, an innovative orthodontic treatment approach. Learn to diagnose malocclusions, plan and execute Invisalign treatment, and monitor patient progress, achieving predictable and aesthetic results.

  • Expanding Skills in Cosmetic Dentistry:

    Further expand your cosmetic dentistry repertoire, focusing on advanced techniques such as complex smile makeovers, porcelain veneers, and smile design principles. Refine your artistic sensibilities, shade matching abilities, and tooth contouring techniques.

  • Handling of Complex Cases:

    Specialise in managing complex cases that involve intricate treatment sequences, interdisciplinary coordination, and adaptive problem-solving. Gain expertise in navigating challenging patient scenarios, ensuring successful outcomes in even the most intricate cases.

  • Developing Advanced Social Skills:

    Through all this you will continue to enhance your social skills, refining interpersonal communication, patient education, and chairside manner. They foster trust, build rapport, and create a comfortable environment for patients, contributing to a positive and reassuring dental experience.


Expected Earnings: £90,000 to £110,000

Our courses and workshops offer comprehensive training by experienced clinicians designed to equip our associates with the skills and knowledge necessary to master dentistry. Through a blend of theoretical instruction and hands-on practice, learn the latest techniques and best practices for achieving optimal results in various dental procedures. 

Restorative Dentistry

Master the art of repairing and enhancing smiles through a comprehensive course covering advanced techniques and materials for restorative procedures.

Invisalign

Learn how to effectively plan and execute Invisalign treatments, providing patients with a comfortable and virtually invisible solution for straightening their teeth.

Smile Design

Explore the principles of smile design and how to create customised treatment plans to achieve harmonious and aesthetically pleasing smiles for every patient.

Ivoclar Composite Bonding

Our composite bonding course offers comprehensive training designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to master the art of composite bonding. Through a blend of theoretical instruction and hands-on practice, attendees will learn the latest techniques and best practices for achieving optimal results in cosmetic dental procedures. Led by experienced instructors, this course covers topics such as material selection, tooth preparation, shade matching, and aesthetic enhancements, empowering dental professionals to deliver exceptional patient outcomes with confidence and precision.

Digital Dentistry

Embrace the future of dentistry with a course on digital workflows, including CAD/CAM technology and intraoral scanning, streamlining processes for better patient outcomes.

Veneer Preparations

Perfect your skills in veneer preparations, from smile analysis and tooth preparation to temporization techniques, ensuring predictable and stunning results for your patients.

Smile Makeovers

Combine artistry and skill in this course focused on comprehensive smile makeovers, incorporating various dental procedures to create life-changing transformations for your patients.

Beyond the training programme, we remain supportive and committed to assisting our associates in achieving success.

We will continue to offer support and advice when requested, doing everything within our means to help you reach your long-term goals.

Ideally, the next step for our associates should be exploring potential business opportunities, either by partnering with us in a clinic or empowering the next generation of dentists through our academy.

From Graduates to Great Clinicians:

The Saint Visage Development Programme is a three year programme focusing on developing inexperienced graduates into successful clinicians through education, clinical training and ongoing support.

OUR MISSION

Our mission statement is to enable our associates to learn and master the art and craft of associate development. With a vast array of lectures, hands-on training, implant mentorship, and clinical experience, our associates can excel in their clinical and patient management skills while also increasing their comprehension of both general dentistry and dental implantology.

Get in touch to find out more!

Submit your details below

Associates enrolled on our Associate Development Programme

Why choose our Development Programmes?

We’re dentists too

Unlike the decision makers in other groups, we are run by a team of dentists! We understand the importance of clinical freedom and what each clinician requires to be able excel in their job. This allows us to make commercial decisions without compromising on the convenience of our clinicians.

Philosophy

We firmly believe in reinvesting what we earn back into our clinicians. We recognise that the rate of our growth is directly correlated to the rate and value of our team. This is why we put our associates first and invest a great amount of time, energy and resources into training each person.

Dedicated Support

To provide the highest quality support, we assign a coordinator to monitor and track the progress of each associate ensuring they are not facing any difficulties or challenges inside or outside the clinic. This way we are able to provide assistance and support whenever necessary.

Free Mentorship and Training

We cover the full costs of the Mentorship and Training throughout the Training Programmes. Mentors are carefully selected high-value clinicians, who are willing to share their expertise and knowledge allowing you to see first hand what skills are required to become a high performing and high earning dental professional.

Suitable for Inexperienced Dentists

Our training programmes are tailor-made for dentists who have little to no real world experience. We focus on developing each associate by assigning them an experienced mentor who will guide and help them build a strong foundation that we can help further develop.

Courses and Diplomas Included

Saint Visage will cover the cost of a range of courses and diplomas for each associate. This includes courses such as Composite Bonding, Invisalign, Facial Aesthetics ,Smile Makeovers and many more etc. We also provide postgraduate diplomas in Implantology and Cosmetic Dentistry.

Recent Open Day Results

Implants

Barrow Dental Aesthetics & Implant Clinic

Barrow-In-Furness, England

17/06/2023

Results

£ 169,106

Sales Revenue

Estimate and Treatment Plan for Day 1:

Patient 1:

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Implant
UR6
£2,500.00
Implant
LL6
£2,500.00
cbct
£150.00
Bone Graft At Time Of Implant Placement
£562.00
Implant assesment
£80.00
Sinus Lift Crestal Approach
£1,200.00
Total
£6,992.00

Patient 2:

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Implant assesment
£80.00
Sinus Lift Crestal Approach
£1,200.00
Sinus Lift Crestal Approach
£1,200.00
Extraction
UR3
£0.00
Extraction
UR2
£0.00
Extraction
UR1
£0.00
Extraction
UL1
£0.00
Extraction
UL2
£0.00
Extraction
UL7
£0.00
Extraction
UL3
£0.00
Implant
UR7
£2,500.00
Implant
UR3
£2,500.00
Implant
UL3
£2,500.00
Implant
UL6
£2,500.00
Implant - Bridge
UR7 UR6 UR5
UR4 UR3 UR2
UR1 UL1 UL2
UL3 UL4 UL5
UL6 UL7
£4,000.00
Implant
UR1
£2,500.00
Implant
UL5
£2,500.00
cbct
£150.00
Total
£21,630.00

Patient 3:

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
cbct
£150.00
Implant assesment
£80.00
Implant
UL3
£2,500.00
Implant Crown
UL3 UL4
£850.00
Extraction
UL3
£0.00
Total
£3,580.00

Patient 4:

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Implant assesment
£80.00
cbct
£150.00
Implant Crown
LR6
£0.00
Implant Crown
LL6 LL5
£350.00
Implant
LR6
£2,500.00
Implant
LL6
£2,500.00
Bone Graft At Time Of Implant Placement
£562.00
Total
£6,142.00

Patient 5:

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Implant assesment
£80.00
cbct
£150.00
Implant
LL3
£2,500.00
Implant
LR5
£2,500.00
Implant
UR3
£2,500.00
Implant
UL4
£2,500.00
Implant Crown
UL4 UL5
£350.00
Implant Crown
UR4 UR3
£350.00
Implant Crown
LR5
£350.00
Implant Crown
LL3
£350.00
Extraction
UR3
£50.00
Extraction
UL4
£50.00
Extraction
UL6
£50.00
Extraction
LL5
£50.00
Zirconia Crown
LR4
£350.00
Zirconia Crown
LR3
£350.00
Zirconia Crown
LR2
£350.00
Zirconia Crown
LR1
£350.00
Zirconia Crown
LL1
£350.00
Zirconia Crown
LL2
£350.00
Zirconia Crown
UR5
£350.00
Zirconia Crown
UR1
£350.00
Zirconia Crown
UL1
£350.00
Total
£14,980.00

Patient 6:

Appointment 1

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Implant assesment
£80.00
Total
£80.00

Appointment 2

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Composite Filling
LL3(B)
£90.00
Composite Filling
LL4(B)
£90.00
Composite Filling
LL5(B)
£90.00
Airflow
£90.00
Total
£360.00

Appointment 3

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Composite Filling
LR7(BB)
£95.00
Composite Filling
LR5(DO)
£95.00
Total
£190.00

Appointment 4

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Composite Filling
UL2(MD)
£95.00
Airflow
£90.00
Total
£185.00

Patient 7:

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Implant assesment
£80.00
cbct
£150.00
Implant
UL3
£2,500.00
Implant Crown
UL2
£350.00
Total
£4,280.00

Patient 8:

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Implant assesment
£80.00
cbct
£150.00
Extraction
UR5
£50.00
Extraction
UL4
£50.00
Extraction
UL5
£50.00
Extraction
UL6
£50.00
Implant
UR5
£2,500.00
Implant
UR2
£2,500.00
Implant
UL2
£2,500.00
Implant
UL5
£2,500.00
Implant
UR5 UR4 UR3
UR2 UR1 UL1
UL2 UL3 UL4
UL5
£2,500.00
Total
£15,000.00

Patient 9:

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Invisalign 2 Arches
£3,500.00
Retainer Upper
UL3
£100.00
Retainer Lower
UL2
£100.00
Total
£3,700.00

Patient 10:

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Zirconia Crown
UL5
£550.00
Zirconia Crown
UL4
£550.00
Zirconia Crown
UL3
£550.00
Zirconia Crown
UL2
£550.00
Zirconia Crown
UL1
£550.00
Zirconia Crown
UR1
£550.00
Zirconia Crown
UR2
£550.00
Zirconia Crown
UR3
£550.00
Zirconia Crown
UR5
£550.00
Diagnostic Wax Up
UL5 UL4 UL3
UL2 UL1 UR1
UR2 UR3 UR5
£360.00
Total
£5,310.00

Patient 11:

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Extraction
LR7
£50.00
Extraction
UL5
£50.00
Implant
UR5
£2,500.00
cbct
£150.00
Implant Crown
UR5
£350.00
Implant
LR6
£2,500.00
Implant Crown
LR5
£350.00
Implant assesment
£80.00
Zirconia Crown
UR6
£550.00
Total
£6,580.00

Patient 12:

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Implant assesment
£80.00
Extraction
UL6
£50.00
Implant
UL6
£2,500.00
Implant Crown
UL5
£350.00
cbct
£150.00
Bone Graft At Time Of Implant Placement
£562.00
Total
£6,962.00

Patient 13:

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Implant
UR6
£2,500.00
Implant
LL6
£2,550.00
cbct
£150.00
Bone Graft At Time Of Implant Placement
£562.00
Implant assesment
£80.00
Sinus Lift Crestal Approach
£1,200.00
Total
£6,992.00

Patient 14:

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Implant assesment
£80.00
Zirconia Crown
LL7
£550.00
Extraction
UL6
£50.00
Extraction
UR3
£50.00
Implant
UR1
£2,500.00
Implant
UR3
£2,500.00
Implant Crown
UR2
£350.00
cbct
£150.00
Bone Graft At Time Of Implant Placement
£562.00
Denture
UR3 UR2 UR1
UL6
£350.00
Total
£7,142.00

Estimate and Treatment Plan for Day 2:

Patient 15:

Appointment 1

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Implant assesment
£80.00
Total
£80.00

Appointment 2

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
Airflow
£90.00
Total
£90.00

Appointment 3

Procedure Performed
Tooth No.
Payment
cbct
£150.00
Implant
UL2
£2,500.00
Implant
UL2
£50.00
Total
£2,700.00

92.8%

Conversion Rate

26

No. of Consultations

We have recently enrolled four associates on our Implant Training Programme within Barrow Dental Aesthetics & Implant Clinic, England. As part of their Mentorship, we will educate them on how to identify potential implant cases and help them develop the communication skills required to successfully refer and convert routine examinations into implant consultations with high conversion rates allowing our team to positively transform the lives of their patients.

Our senior Implantologists, Dr Nasrullah Khan and Dr Geoffery Gordon, led informative sessions, live demonstrations, and interactive discussions for our associates to enhance their treatment planning knowledge especially in cases of implants.

The priority was to educate our new associates with the knowledge and skills required to benefit the lives and longevity of their patient’s oral health with a focus on being able to identify potential implant cases.

Implant consultations are often interpreted as a challenge to convert often due to the false assumption of affordability from the patient’s side, we wanted to break this stereotype and set an example for our new associates. 

We had informed our clinicians that with our training and guidance, each associate would refer a minimum of 6 to 9 implant patients from an average working month.

All patients were provided comprehensive information about the available treatment options for their missing teeth, including the benefits and challenges associated with each option allowing them to choose which option suits their lifestyle.

As expected, each associate referred an average of 7 patients for implant consultations during their working month. They saw an average of 12 to 15 patients for routine examinations per day, five days a week. 

It is important to note that this was just their first attempted month after receiving the necessary training and naturally as they develop their skill further, the number of implant cases will inevitably increase. 

Further, 26 out of the 28 patients proceeded with the proposed treatment plans allowing us to help restore the confidence of 93% patients that attended the Open Day.

Despite implants not being the most affordable treatment option, in most cases, with the correct communication, patients would choose implant as their preferred method of treatment for missing teeth.

Associates do not need vast experience to help promote implant treatments, what makes the difference is the guidance and support. In our case, all four associates had less than one year of experience but will now be helping the clinic generate an additional £170,000 in revenue each month.

Implant Open Days can make a massive financial difference to the success of mixed practices, by generating additional capital each month, further investment can be made into the development and training of clinicians ensuring all patients are seen by competent and confident clinicians that can provide them life changing options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get in contact with out career team by email via career@saintvisage.co.uk. You can message us on Whatsapp 075 8241 1111 for further information.

The GDC Number is a personal identification number assigned by the General Dental Council to each dentist within the United Kingdom. Before practicing any form of dentistry, it is mandatory that you first register with the GDC and obtain your GDC Number.

To maintain your GDC Number you must pay the ‘ARF’ each year and complete a minimum number of ‘CPD’ hours.

If you graduated from within the EU/EEA with a primary dental qualification that was taught and examined in English, then you are automatically suitable.

If you graduated from within the EU/EEA with a primary dental qualification that was taught and examined in a foreign language then you are still suitable, but you may be required to pass the IELTS Academic assessment.

If you graduated from outside the EU/EEA, then we require you to first pass both parts of the ORE exam before we can automatically enrol you on our programme.

The current waiting time commonly ranges anywhere between 2 to 6 months. It largely depends on the number of GDC caseworkers available and who in particular is handling your case as some caseworkers can be faster than others.

The locations offered depend on both the availability at the time and the preferences of each associate. We ensure each associate has a minimum of four locations to choose from before they decide to make a commitment.

Performer Numbers are issued to each dentist through the local NHS Area Team upon obtaining registration on the NHS Performers List. The Performer Number is necessary to practice NHS Dentistry or before to provide treatment for patients under an NHS Contract.

You are exempted from undertaking IELTS or providing any proof of English proficiency if it has been less than two years since you graduated with a dental degree that was taught and examined in English.

The score required to pass IELTS exam is 6.5 band in subsections (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) and 7 overall average band.

To find out which countries are within the EU/EEA click here.

Yes, you can.

Yes, you can still apply. We understand that some universities can take up to a year to provide you with your official degree and sometimes even longer. As long as you have a provisional, temporary or mock degree, then we can start your application process.

Yes, if you have passed both parts of the ORE exam, then we can consider you for the programme and provide you a suitable practice offering a PLVE mentor so you can obtain your Performer Number.

No. We can start your application from wherever you are. As long as we can obtain your necessary documentation and signatures, location does not matter.

Yes! If you have passed both parts of the ORE exam, then we can consider you for the programme. However, it is important to know that your choices of clinics will be more limited as clinics that employ you will need to offer PLVE mentorship. You will be able to discuss this with our career coordinators.