To become a dentist, you must complete a four-year dental school program to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), in addition to acquiring state licensing. This career path all begins with a bachelor’s degree. To specialize in an area such as orthodontics, dentists need to complete further training.
With all of that said, you might be wondering, why should I become a dentist?
There are numerous reasons why this can be a rewarding career choice, and these are described in detail below for you:
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Change the lives of patients
First and foremost comes the reward of providing your patients with the ultimate oral health and smile. By providing tooth pain relief, a dentist can significantly improve the lives of their patients. You can get a patient’s teeth functioning again by extracting a painful tooth or crowning a tooth. Additionally, you can observe a patient’s gradual increase in self-assurance when they get braces, whiten their teeth, or fill up cavities. Giving them the right dental care can also help them speak and eat better, which can be satisfying.
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Get a large income
Another benefit is that you’ll be able to earn a good amount of money. The average annual compensation for a dentist across the country is $225,817. As a dentist, your pay may vary based on your state, city, level of schooling, and specialty.
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Select from a variety of job paths
You can work as a general dentist after completing dental school. You can choose to focus on just one aspect of dentistry or select from other specialists. To advance dental care and wellness, you can also seek a profession as a public dental health specialist.
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Appreciate a flexible way of life
You might have a balanced personal and professional life as a dentist. You can determine your work schedule based on whether you work in a particular field or if you operate a practice.
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Keep your job secure
There is considerable job security in this industry because there is a growing demand among consumers to take better care of their dental health. Dentists should expect an 8% job increase until 2030, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, which is the same average growth rate for all other occupations. Having a stable dental career could lower your
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Strive for independent work
After graduating from dentistry school and dental coaching, you could decide to start your own practice and seek self-employment. You may have complete control over a firm and a fantastic investment opportunity if you operate your own practice. You are in charge of your practice; you determine the fees and the days you will be available. Additionally, you can locate and recruit employees, buy supplies, and design the environment you want for your workplace.
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Inform patients about dental hygiene
Teaching patients how to take care of their teeth at home is part of the job description for a dentist. In addition to giving patients written instructions and booklets, dentists can also follow up with patients via phone.
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Make a contribution to dental health care in the future
You can advance technology or treatments in oral health care by participating in research as a dentist. You can travel, network with other professionals in the industry, see presentations of other people’s work, and benefit from others’ research when you attend dental congresses. You can work as a dental instructor, specifically, or as a general dentist. You might also pursue a career in dentistry research at Future DMD to examine trends in oral health and disseminate your findings to the general public and dental professionals.
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Be part of a network
Dental assistants, technicians, and medical student interns are just a few of the teams that dentists frequently collaborate closely with. Every member of the team has the opportunity to learn new things when working in a communicative environment, and you can apply this information to your dentistry profession. An effective team may also raise the likelihood that a dental office will prosper financially and enjoy a stellar reputation.
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Apply scientific and artistic abilities
Being a dentist can help you solve problems and make patients happy by putting your creativity and math and science expertise to use. For instance, you could use permanent adhesive to fix a patient’s chipped tooth. You can use your imagination to employ veneers or other natural therapies to whiten or straighten patients’ teeth because dentistry also deals with dental aesthetics.
Have Other Questions?
At Future DMD, we are here to help you make the best decision for your future. Our staff is at your disposal and ready to address all your inquiries about this unique profession. Call today to speak to a member of our team.