Becoming a Dentist

Dentists are responsible for ensuring that their patients or healthy. They advise on preventative dentistry and treat decayed teeth or gum disease. They also perform specialized surgery, such as root fillings. Training lasts at least five years and demand thorough scientific knowledge.

The job:

Most dentists work in general practice, based in a surgery. They perform check-ups, give necessary treatment, and deal with emergencies, such as toothache.

Most dentists in general practice run their own businesses or work in a group practice. Some specialize in treating children or particularly nervous patients.

The work can be pressurized and stressful. Patients may be nervous and the dentist must help them to relax. Dentists work to an appointments system and they must ensure that treatments are carried out quickly, accurately, and painlessly. It is important that dentists have good manual skills, since much of the work is very close and detailed. A dentist must be able to concentrate intensely for long periods of time, which can be tiring.

Dentists running general practices must have good business and management skills. They may employ other dental professionals, such as hygienists and surgery assistants, and they must ensure that the team runs smoothly.

Dentists have to keep up to date with new dental techniques and technology to improve their service. This could involve them in investing in new equipment and further training.

Some dentists work in hospitals. Here they see fewer patients than a general practitioner would, but the problems are likely to be more complicated. They work as part of a team of dental specialists.

Problems treated could include unusual dental conditions, facial injuries, restorative dentistry, or difficult extractions, such as wisdom teeth. Jobs are salaried and so they do not have the business worries faced by general practitioners. However, long hours are worked and they are often on call to deal with emergences.

Dentists may also specialize in community dentistry, which is aimed at people who may need special scare - such as the elderly, physically handicapped, or house bound. Dentists may also travel around to schools, performing routine examinations or teaching preventative dentistry.

Other jobs are in the armed services, large companies, or in teaching at dental schools or universities. Some dentists undertake research or work for companies manufacturing dental equipment.

Training involved:

Training takes a minimum of five years. In many dental schools, the first year covers the same subjects studied by medical studies. Subjects studied include anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, dental anatomy, dental materials science, preventative dentistry, children's dentistry, anesthetics, radiology, drugs, and diseases of the teeth and mouth.

Practical skills are taught through clinical practice, which usually begins in the second year of study. Students work on dummy heads with tea before they are allowed to practice online patients. In this way, they learn how to fillings and restorative dentistry, such as crown and bridge work. Some courses include placements in dental and medical practices.

In some countries, students complete a one-year postgraduate training scheme under the supervision of a qualified dentist before they can practice. In other countries, graduates may have to sit and pass an examination to be able to practice.

Postgraduate training of two or three years is required to specialize in, for example, orthodontics or cosmetic dentistry.

Salary Expectations:

The base salary range of a Dentist range from $101,621 to $188,950 annually, while the median salary for most Dentists is $141,500 annually. (US Base Pay)

Future prospects:

Dentists can build up a good practice by offering an efficient, caring service to patients. Hospital dentist can rise to senior posts within hospitals and, in teaching; it is possible to become a professor.

The growth in preventative dentistry has meant that, in some countries, fewer children have bad teeth. In response, dentists are taking on more of an educational role. Older people may still require restoration and cosmetic dentistry.

Technological advances mean that, in the future, dentistry will become quicker and easier with, for example, the introduction of lasers to perform some dental operations. This may make dentistry more expensive and there has been a growth in dental insurance schemes in some countries as state funding has decreased.

The number of applicants for dentistry has decreased in recent years. This may be because potential students see the rise in preventative work and feel that demand for dentists will inevitably decrease. Some young dentists are specializing in cosmetic and restoration industry to increase their chances of employment in the future. The demand for dentists will remain fairly constant for the time being.

For further information, please contact professional dental organizations, universities, and dental schools.