How to Become A Dentist
Dentists, who work in the field of dentistry, work to try to prevent diseases, maintain good health and perform procedures and even surgery in the human mouth. In addition to teeth, they can also be responsible for treating gums and jaw bones in what is called the maxillofacial area, which is the area around the teeth and mouth. If all of this technical dental speech sounds exciting to you, and you want to pursue one of the most lucrative careers available today, then keep reading to learn how to become a dentist.
What’s It Like to Be a Dentist?
Dentists and their teams of dental technicians and dental hygienists help their patients fight the two major dental conditions which are cavities, professionally known as caries, and gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. They are very knowledgeable in instructing patients in terms of how diet, brushing teeth, flossing, getting regular dental check ups and simple procedures might help them have healthy teeth for the rest of their lives.
When one goes to the dentist’s office, they might expect to get X-rays where dentists can visually see where cavities might be. Dentists can physically scrape and drill out tooth decay which is caused by bacteria. Then, they might fill the cavity with a filling. They are also trained to perform extractions, where an entire tooth is removed due to severe pain and decay.
There are a few different types of dentists and they usually select a specialization route at some point in dental school. The top official organization in the United States is the American Dental Association (ADA) and they formally recognize up to nine specializations. The common ones most people might be familiar with are general dentists, oral surgeons who are trained in anesthesia, orthodontists who straighten teeth and prosthodontists who treat patients with dentures, for example.
What Kind of Schooling Do I Need to Become a Dentist?
If you are interested in dentistry and are researching how to become a dentist, the education track is similar to that of a medical doctor because the two disciplines are so closely related. However, physicians can prescribe many times the number of prescription drugs that a dentist can.
If the interest on how to become a dentist arises early, such as in middle or high school, it might be best to talk to a school career counselor to determine what preparation might be necessary. Overall, before and during college, take a lot of science classes, especially chemistry and biology.
Also, you will need to graduate high school and attend a four year college, earning the best grades you can achieve. It might be interesting to take some online courses through an online college. An online education is becoming more common but make sure any credits transfer and that the school is accredited. Try to excel in your science laboratory courses. During your undergraduate years you will need to prepare for what is called the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and submit your grades to a college of dentistry or several if you so choose. There are great study guides out there. Expect to work hard in dental school and you probably will have to work as a resident, perhaps in the college itself. Then, there are certification examinations to pass to practice dentistry in your state.
Talk to a dentist about how to become a dentist as they might be the very best resource for detailed information on this growing field. And start your education today, the sooner you start, the sooner you will be a practicing dentist!
