Dentistry Career

Dentists are medical professionals who deal with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders related to the oral cavity and maxillofacial areas and structures. Modern dentistry focuses on prevention, surgical and nonsurgical treatment. The most common treatments carried out by dentists are for tooth decay and gum disease. Most dentists work 4-5 days weekly and sometimes evenings and weekends to accomodate their patients.

Dentists do restorations like fillings, crowns, and bridges. They also do extractions, make dentures and perform root canals and scaling of teeth. With additional training dentists can perform oral and maxillofacial surgeries, implants, and sedation. Unlike medical doctors dentists cannot prescribe all medications and are limited to prescribing antibiotics, sedatives, and fluorides.

Most dentists work in private offices and are assisted by other professionals including dental assistants, technicians and hygienists. Dentists must be able to use a variety of equipment including drills, probes, forceps, lasers, computers and x-ray machines. Because of physical contact between patient and dentist, dentists must wear masks, gloves and safety goggles as a safeguard from infectious diseases.

Job prospects in dentistry are excellent because of the number of dentists who are nearing retirement age and the recognition of the link between general health and dental health. A dentistry degree and license promises a lucrative future. A general practice dentist earns an average of $175,000 year while the specialist averages close to $200,000.

Admission to dental school usually requires a bachelor’s degree which includes specific pre-dental coursework. This coursework is strong in science and math and includes chemistry, biology, physics, health, algebra and calculus. There are a few dental colleges that accept students after 2-3 years of college. In addition, students must take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Acceptance is based on grade point average, score on the DAT, and interview performance. Admission to dental school is very competitive.

Dental school is generally a four year program. The first two years emphasize science lecture and laboratory studies in biochemistry, microbiology, anatomy and physiology. The next two years focus on clinical studies where dental students treat patients in dental clinics and hospitals. Dental students doing clinical studies are under the supervision of licensed dentists. Students successfully completing four years of dental school receive a DDS degree (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or a DMD degree (Doctor of Dental Medicine).

Some courses specific to dental school include Histology and Oral Microanatomy, Dental Gross Anatomy and Embryology, Dental Neuroanatomy, Dental Profession, Dental Biochemistry, Dental Physiology, Oral and Maxilloradiology, Periodontics, Operative Dentistry, Dental Anatomy, Esthetic Dentistry, Dental Practice Management.

The list of subjects goes on to include other courses such as Geriatric Dentistry, Anterior Endodontics, Immunity, Infection and Diseases, Oral Diagnosis, Oral Surgery, Pediatric Dentistry, Dentures Restorative Dentistry, Drug Use and Abuse, Oral Pathology, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry.

In the US, there are 57 accredited dental schools. Tuition rates for these schools vary from about $27,000 at the University of Florida to almost $62,000 at the University of Southern California. At Marquette tuition is about $29,000, at Howard University it is about $40,000 and at the University of Pennsylvania is $60,000.

In all fifty states, dentists must graduate from an accredited dental school and pass both the written National Board Dental Examinations and also the practical examinations given by each state. In addition to the general practice of dentistry, there are nine specialty areas that require additional training, residency, and licensing. These nine specialty areas include orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, periodontics, prosthodontics, dental public healthy specialty, endontics, oral pathology, oral and maxillofacial radiology.

Dentistry is a unique field that requires academic and manual skills. Dentists need to have diagnostic skills as well as manual dexterity and excellent spatial judgment. The dentist must also know how to open his or her own practice and deal with some of the basic aspects. One of the great advantages of this type of medical career is that it can be practiced at a home office, while other medical practices must be done at specialized facilities.