DENTIST

Qualifications Needed to Become a Dentist

Many dentists take up to eight years to complete their education before moving into the workforce. Even with years of education, many dentists continue their education long into their careers. With specialty fields such as orthodontists and prosthodontists, many dentists take much longer than eight years to gain all of the knowledge needed for their specialty.

Undergraduate Education
Before applying to dental programs, candidates must complete, at minimum, two years of undergraduate study. Candidates often major in biology, chemistry or health-related fields for their undergraduate degrees.

Admissions to Dental School
Dental schools require candidates to pass a Dental Admissions Test (DAT) before acceptance into their program.

Dental School
With four-year programs, dental school students work in the classroom, laboratory and, for the last two years, with patients. With a balance of textbook and hands-on experience, they are often ready for their licensing upon graduation.

Licensure
After graduation, most states require dentists to pass a written and practical examination before they are able to practice dentistry.

Other Skills
Other than the educational requirements, dentists must have near perfect manual dexterity and a good visual memory. Other skills such as spacial judgment and the abilities to recall and diagnose are also important.

Skills Needed to Become a Dentist

Beyond the standard skills like knowing and understanding the practice of dentistry, dentists continue to bring back repeat customers for other reasons. A friendly attitude and a personality with strong people skills make customers comfortable in a usually uncomfortable setting. Here's some additional skills people don't usually think about that dentists need.

Conversation Starters

Dentists interact with people all day long, so strong people skills are needed. Dentists should always open up with a friendly smile and "Hello."

Friendliness

Nobody wants a dentist who works in silence while they pull and poke inside your mouth. Dentists should be friendly and keep casual conversation throughout the whole appointment. Knowing when to talk (for example, when the dentist is working inside the patient's mouth) and when to pause is necessary.

Patience

Dentists need to stay patient with young children who are generally anxious and unable to stay put in a certain place for a long time. They should create fun games and activities that keep the child's mind active while the dentist works on their mouths.

Sense of Humor

While this isn't exactly required, it's a sought after commodity. Dentists shouldn't try to force being funny.

Detail Oriented

Dentists work with small tools in tight spaces, so they need to be detail oriented. Dentists need to understand how to use light sources to see better and try not to drop tools into the patient's mouth.

Where Can Get Training/Education

Undergraduate Basic dental training consists of a full-time course leading to a Bachelor’s degree (BDS or BChD). The degree course lasts for five years and includes an academic education supporting clinical practice of the care of patients. Graduates from UK dental schools must undertake a further year of vocational training, after registering with the General Dental Council (GDC), before they can practise in the UK. 

You can study an undergraduate dental course at thirteen dental schools in the UK: 

• King’s College London (University of London) 

• Lambeth College (London) – foundation degree in dental technology 

• Queen Mary, University of London 

• Queen’s University Belfast 

• University of Birmingham 

• University of Bristol 

• University of Dundee 

• University of Glasgow 

• University of Leeds 

• University of Liverpool 

• Newcastle upon Tyne University 

• University of Sheffield 

• University of Manchester 

Dentist General Job Description

A dentist is someone who practices dentistry. Also known as a dental surgeon, a dentist is a healthcare professional who specialises in the diagnosis prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services. The dental team includes dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians, and dental therapists.

How Does A Day Of Dentist Goes On

Dentists perform a variety of dental procedures to diagnose and treat conditions of the mouth and teeth. General tasks include examining x-rays, filling cavities, straightening teeth, repairing teeth, extracting teeth, and creating model teeth or dentures. Dentists also perform surgical procedures such as implants to replace missing teeth, and tissue grafts to treat gum disease. Dentists may be general practitioners that handle a variety of needs, or specialists that treat in one of the nine recognized dental specialties. Dentists typically work in offices, while some work in hospitals or for government agencies

The Job Responsibilities for a Dentist

Dentists can expect good job prospects, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), with a 16 percent increase from 2008 to 2018. The median annual salary for dentists in 2008 was $142,870. However, those in private practice tend to earn more than those who are salaried. Dentists treat patients' teeth and oral tissues, providing corrective and preventive care.

Diagnosis and Education

Dentists instruct patients on proper brushing, flossing, use of fluoridated products, diet and how to properly care for their teeth and gums. They alert patients to potential problems and instruct them on a schedule for dental checkups. Dentists do routine checkups to monitor a patient's oral health by using the latest radiographic and computer-generated imaging equipment. They identify any disease involving the teeth, tongue, gums, lips and jaw. Dentists sometimes detect cancers, and they are always aware of the link between cardiac and dental health.

Corrective and Preventive Procedures

Dentists apply sealants to teeth to protect against decay and wear. They also must repair, restore and replace teeth lost to disease, decay and trauma through procedures such as fillings, implants, grafts, bridges and root canals. They restore a patient's appearance through cosmetic dentistry with replacement and restoration of teeth, alignment and whitening procedures. In some cases, dentists remove teeth or perform surgery on bones or gums.

Administrative and Supervisory Tasks

Many dentists work in a solo practice, as the only dentist in the office. These dentists oversee other staff such as receptionists, dental hygienists and dental assistants. They order and maintain equipment and supplies, and they oversee the bookkeeping and billing procedures as well as making sure records are kept properly and the scheduling is performed as desired.

Interview With a Dentist

You may not become a dentist, but familiarizing with some tools that dentists use can be a little relief and inform you that they are not there to torture you. Also you can employ too some of the tools at home like floss picks and electric toothbrush.

When you are first examined, you may be brought to torture chair, I mean the dental seat, an adjustable machine to match your body posture used for various mouth examination and operation. In your left side after you sit usually placed an automatic bowl rinsing with its cup filling and 3 ways syringe, you can choose it in hot and cold, a water purified system with hand pieces, racks of dental tools and saliva ejector. In your right side there are ceramic cuspidor and assistant stand with operator stool in front of you where the dentist examines your teeth. When you are visiting your dentist, you do not need all of these tools to stop bad breath.

In some classy and expensive dental office, they may provide you with standard x-ray film viewer and operation light set too. The tools are there to make quick oral operations like pulling and patching the teeth. What you will likely find too are matrix bands and bone chisel, bone chisel are used for advanced surgery caused by deformation. Do not worry if you only perform standard oral check up, you will not use this tool at all, not even to stop bad breath.