Choosing a career is a big decision, especially when you’re still in school. One of the interesting careers you might take a liking to is that of a dentist. But what is the role of a dentist, and certainly, should you be one? Let’s delve into this very exciting profession.
What Does a Dentist Do?
Dentists are the health workers who take care of the teeth and gums. The working profile of a dentist mainly focuses on helping people with mouth and oral health. Here is what the dentist usually does:
- Check-ups: Dentists check the condition of one’s teeth and gums.
- Cleaning: To remove plaque and tartar, which can lead to cavities and gum diseases in the teeth.
- Fixing Teeth: Dentists replace lost teeth and broken teeth, and other maintenance root canals are used to save teeth that are inefficiently shaped.
- Prevention: The dentist’s role is to teach how to brush and floss teeth as per the required standards and to advise on how to maintain a healthy diet that will eventually benefit teeth.
- Braces and Aligners: Some dentists have specialized in being orthodontists. Their work is to straighten teeth with the use of braces or clear aligners.
Why Become a Dentist?
There are several reasons why becoming a dentist can prove to be a great career choice. Here are some significant ones:
- Assisting People: Dentists play an important role in helping people with their oral health, which is directly connected with the body’s general health. They alleviate pain, correct dental defects, and assist people in feeling more confident because of their beautiful smiles.
- Good Salary: Dentists mostly command a good salary and are hence able to take good care of their families.
- Job Stability: People will always need dentists because everyone has teeth that need looking after; hence, dentistry is a profession that cannot easily die out.
- Flexibility: Dentists can work in many different settings—private practice, hospital, or school. They can easily choose working hours by themselves so that they can have a good work-life balance.
- Lifelong Learning: Dentistry is one field that keeps growing with new technology and techniques. Dentists continue with their dental coaching even during their careers, which keeps the job interesting.
What Skills Do You Need?
To become a dentist, you will require some skills and qualities. Below is a list of some important ones:
- Attention to Detail: Since they work on small areas in the mouth, dentists should be precise and cautious.
- Good Communication: They must be able to explain treatments to patients clearly and offer advice on oral care.
- Problem-Solving: Most of the time, dentists are tasked with finding out what has gone wrong with a patient’s teeth and how that can be treated or fixed.
- Patience and Compassion: One needs to be patient with the patients, especially those who are nervous about visiting a dentist.
- Manual Dexterity: Dentists must be good at handling their hands and good at eye-hand coordination in delicate procedures.
How to Become a Dentist
It takes a lot of time and effort to become a dentist. The steps one has to follow are:
- High School Education: This should focus on science subjects such as biology and chemistry. It would help if you had good grades in these subjects.
- College Education: You are required to go to college after high school and pursue a bachelor’s degree. Pre-dental programs are good in this regard.
- Dental School: You’ll need to attend dental school for four years after college. During dental school, you would study dental and treatment science and be introduced to the principles of patient management care.
- Licensing: Following dental school, post-licensing exams need to be passed prior to the issuance of a dental license, making the practice of dentistry legal.
- Specialization (Optional): If you wish to specialize in any specific area, such as orthodontics or pediatric dentistry, you will require additional training.
Is Dentistry Right for You?
Whether or not you should be a dentist, consider what makes you happy and what you are good at. Do you like helping others? Do you love natural science and human health? Do you want to use your hands to make things? If you said yes to any of these, then you might be well adapted to working in dentistry.
It is also great to discuss with a dentist, visit dental offices, or even shadow a dentist to find out really what work is like and what the pros of becoming a dentist are. This way, knowledge of daily activities and challenges can help you make proper decisions.
Future DMD
It would be an interesting and self-esteemed career as a dentist, helping the masses in and around to have good earnings with inmainstream jobs. It is a hard path, full of dedication and work toward the acquisition of suitable skills; however, if you like oral health and enjoy working with people, it is the right thing to proceed with. So, if you think about a profession with health care, think about dentistry.
Remember, it’s okay to take your time and test the different careers that are out there until you zero in on the one that really feels right for you. Good luck on your journey!