What It Takes To Be A Dentist
Have you ever thought about becoming a dentist
? Many people desire to be a dentist because it is a fulfilling career with a good income.
If you are curious about dentistry and what it takes to be a dentist, keep on reading. This article will help you figure out if dentistry is the right occupation for you.
First, you must really like science because you will take plenty of science classes all throughout college and dental school. If you are still in high school, taking biology, chemistry, physics, health and math classes can all help prepare you for the future.
You will also want to maintain a high grade point average to make sure you can get into the school of your choice. If you are past high school, do not worry, there is still plenty of time for you to decide if you would like to become a dentist.
Once you head to college it is important for you to obtain a bachelor's degree before you apply to dental school. Bachelor degrees in the areas of science can be very helpful, but is not necessary.
Some colleges offer pre-dental classes, if your college does offer these, they would be extremely helpful to take. Once you get into dental school, these classes often count for many dental school prerequisites.
Anyone wanting to apply to dental school does need to complete a few different science and math classes regardless of your major. Make sure to look into the dental school of your choice early on so you know exactly what is expected of you before you apply.
Once you are done with college you need to pass the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). This test takes more than four hours to complete and has four different sections including reading comprehension, perceptual ability, natural sciences, and quantitative reasoning.
You will then apply to your schools of interest. The school will take into account your DAT score, your past GPAs, and letters of recommendation.
Once you are admitted into dental school you will spend your first two years focusing on coursework and lab studies. Your final two years of dental school emphasize clinical practice.
Once you have completed these four years you will take the National Board Dental Examination (NBDE). Depending on the state you live in you will either obtain a license by passing this exam or they will administer their own practical and written exam.
If everything is passed, you will become an official licensed dentist. You can then join a practice or start your own.
If you do not want to be just a basic dentist you will have to look into more schooling in order to become a specialty dentist. Some specialty dentists include orthodontists, endodontists, and periodontists.
They all specialize in something different. A few other important traits of a dentist are someone that works well with people.
You will be faced with many patients and if you want them to keep coming back to visit you, they must like you. Make sure you are a good communicator and can easily talk to others.
It is also important for a dentist to be flexible. You will be your own boss and it is important that you will be able to balance your personal life and your professional life.
Dentists should also be creative. It will be your job to make sure your patient looks their best.
Sometimes it takes creativity to achieve the best results. If this sounds like your type of job, then you will be in for a fulfilling career.
Dentists provide a great service to the public and help many people. They usually also make quite a bit of money and can live comfortably off of their salary.
If this sounds like too much schooling, you may want to look into becoming a dental assistant or hygienist. Both of these careers also take place in the dental industry, but do not take quite as much schooling.
They also do not have to be in charge of the whole practice because they are under the direction of the dentist although they will posses similar qualities the dentist has. Good luck on your future, hopefully this article gave you enough information to know if dentistry is the right industry for you.
by: Terry Daniels
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