Career as a Dentist
Contrary to the late comedian W.C. Field’s admonition to “start every day off with a smile and get it over with,” a smile is one of most peoples’ greatest natural assets. In addition, good oral health plays a central role in overall health and well-being.
The dentist is the health professional who helps people put forth their best smile, by performing procedures to preserve or reconstruct teeth. Dentists serve as the first line of defense against oral health problems, from the relatively common signs of tooth decay to more serious problems such as oral cancer. They work in the area of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide variety of oral conditions, disorders, and diseases that affect not only the teeth but also the gums and the body’s maxillofacial region (jaw and face).
The World Health Organization defines the field of dentistry as “the science and art of preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries and malformations of the teeth, jaws, and mouth.” As noted by this definition, dentistry differs from most medical professions in that it also requires a certain amount of artistry. For example, dentists – from the general practitioner to specialists such as orthodontists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons – must have cosmetic expertise to repair broken teeth and correct crooked smiles. In fact, it is only by fusing art and science that dentists are able to restore teeth and smiles to health, function, and beauty. As a result, they not only change the way people look but often how they look at life.
The vast majority of dentists work in general dentistry, with 136,000 dental practitioners working in general dentistry out of 161,000 dentists in the United States. There are also nine specialty fields recognized by the American Dental Association. These fields are orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, endodontics, public health dentistry, oral pathology, and oral and maxillofacial radiology.
Dentistry offers many rewarding career options. In addition to working in a private practice, dentists also have the opportunity to pursue careers in teaching and research, or seek employment with government agencies and industry.
If you would like to sink your teeth into a career that offers the opportunity to help people, practice creativity, and experience prestige and the respect of the community, this report will provide you with important information about the field and its requirements, as well as how to pursue your career goal.
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