Pursuing the Career of a Dentist
If you are planning to choose a career of a dentist, you will have to remember that you should complete education, training and residency for years, before you start your own practice. You will also have to determine the type of dentistry you want to pursue, whether it is pediatric, general or dental surgery. Apart from this formal education several aspiring dentist may want to take training in communication and management, to hone their skills, required to operate an office and employ, train and maintain staff.
Though the path towards a dental degree may seem quite straightforward, like progression towards dental school and residency, this path also needs students to consider various points and alternatives before heading to the next level. E.g. which undergraduate degrees can give you the best opportunity to enter a dental school? Is it important? When should I apply for the admission to dental school? What is covered in the exam? Here are answers to some of these important questions.
Generally speaking dentists look after oral health of their patients. This may include anything from advice on foods to hygiene to repairing damaged teeth to performing more complex and invasive surgery. Dentists may handle usual cleaning and hygiene, extracting teeth, filling cavities, creating dentures, applying whitening agents or sealants, writing prescriptions and straightening teeth.
While planning to choose a career as a dentist, it is advisable to take a quick look at your personal qualities. You should have diligence and patience necessary for oral health work. In addition, you should also have excellent communication skills to deal smoothly with patients and colleagues. Your hands should be able to work well, trained with various instruments and very attentive to details.
Steps to Become a Dentist
Bachelor’s Degree: Most of the times, a bachelor’s degree is necessary before taking admission to a dental school. Infrequently some dental schools give admittance to students who complete a 3-year dental program. The prerequisites differ from school to school. Ensure that you have researched thoroughly about various schools. Common prerequisites include chemistry, biochemistry, organic chemistry, biology, physics and statistics.
DAT (Dental Acceptance Test): Getting admission to dental schools is extremely tough due to competition amongst which DAT results are a major factor considered by dental programs for choosing applicants. If you want to apply for the admittance in a dental school, you should take the DAT in your junior year of undergraduate course. DAT is held by the American Dental Association (ADA) and consist of four multiple-option tests. These tests cover natural sciences, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension and perceptual ability. You can take DAT up to three times, but ninety days should pass between two tests. A special permission is needed if you want to take DAT for the fourth time.
Complete the Dentist Degree: There are two types of dentists’ degrees – DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine). There is only one difference between these two courses and it is their names. Rest everything is similar in both the courses. State licensing boards accept both degrees.
Whether you choose a DMD or a DDS degree course, your education will be designed as per the curriculum approved by the ADA’s Commission on Dental Accreditation. The education includes a combination of clinical and didactic courses, such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, endodontics, pedonotics, restorative dentistry, oral diagnosis and oral surgery.
State and National Licensing Exams: All states make it compulsory for the dentists to be licensed, but the rules may vary from state to state. By contacting your state’s dental association you can get information on requirements for licensing.
The National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) has been developed by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations and you should pass their pass/fail test in order to practice dentistry in any state.
At http://www.coursesguide.org/dmd-vs-dds-whats-the-difference/ you can get a wealth of information on dentistry courses, difference between DDS and DMD, and much more. If you want to pursue a career of a dentist, you should visit this website.
