Dentistry

What is Dentistry? By definition, dentistry is the treatment of diseases and other conditions that affect the teeth and gums, especially the repair and extraction of teeth and the insertion of artificial ones. Education Pathway The first step you need to take before becoming a dentist is to graduate from high school. From there, attend a college or university and obtain a bachelor’s degree. Keep in mind that you don’t need to major in science. After earning your bachelor’s degree, the next step to becoming a dentist is to take the DAT exam, or Dental Admission Test. The DAT can be taken any time of the year, and the scores are usually used by dental colleges or universities in the United States or Canada. There are 66 colleges in the US and 10 in Canada. Some topics that are tested in the DAT are a survey of natural sciences, perceptual ability, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning. After completing the DAT, a recommended next step is to shadow a dentist, or accompany them during a regular day of work. This will give you a sense of what you might experience if you choose to become a dentist, and afterward, obtain a letter of recommendation from the dentist you are shadowing. A letter of recommendation will be useful and important in the next part of your journey to becoming a dentist, which is to apply, interview, and get accepted into an accredited dental school. While attending a dental school, complete a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) degree, which usually takes 4 years to obtain. There are 67 dental schools in the United States, and currently there are the highest number of enrolled dental students in history. If needed, complete a residency and earn your license to become a dentist! Subspecialties General dentistry, which will take five years to earn a license in. These five years consist of a four year residency and one additional year, which is optional. Dental anesthesiology, which takes six or seven years to earn a license in. This includes an additional two to three years after a typical four year dental residency. Dental anesthesiologists provide pain medication or substances that prevent the patient from feeling any pain, before performing surgeries. Dental anesthesiologists provide these drugs to patients who are undergoing surgeries to the mouth, jaws, or teeth. This type of dentist is required to treat children and patients with special healthcare needs. It takes five or six years to obtain a license in Dental Public Health. It is a non-clinical specialty, and the many dental public health experts focus more on improving dental health in a wider area, such as an entire community or population, instead of a single patient. Many experts work for primary care trusts and/or health authorities, or work for the Department of Health or universities and colleges. Endodontics takes six or seven years to obtain a license in. Endodontics are part of a branch of dentistry which studies dental pulp and tissues that surround the roots of a tooth, and dentists who specialize in endodontics work on saving teeth. These types of dentists attend two or three additional years of medical training in endodontics after medical school, and routinely perform difficult and complex surgeries to save teeth after injuries. Oral and Maxillofacial pathology takes an additional three years to complete. This specialty deals with identifying and managing diseases that affect teeth and jaws. Oral and Maxillofacial pathologists research and diagnose diseases affecting a patient’s teeth and jaws, using clinical, microscopic, radiographic, and other types of examinations. Oral and Maxillofacial radiology requires an additional two or three years to earn a license in. Oral and Maxillofacial radiologists work with taking CT and MRI scans of the jaw and dental area, as well as interpreting these scans to diagnose the diseases and manage their treatment. This type of dentist works with the mouth, face, and jaw area. Oral and Maxillofacial surgery takes an additional four to six years to earn a license, and may also include attending medical school. Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons diagnose diseases in the teeth and jaw area, and may need to perform surgery to correct any injuries or defects in the functional and aesthetic parts of the jaw, mouth, and teeth. Oral and Maxillofacial surgery includes either a four year residency track or a six year residency track that includes attending medical school. Oral medicine takes an additional two or three years to earn a license in. These types of dentists are responsible for more medically complex patients, and will also diagnose types of diseases in the mouth, jaw, and teeth area. The diseases that oral medicine dentists work with may also include disorders and conditions that will affect the maxillofacial region of a patient. Orofacial pain takes an additional one or two years to obtain a license in. Orofacial pain dentists treat patients with pain disorders around their mouth, jaws, teeth, face, head and neck. They diagnose these types of problems and decide how to manage or treat them. Orthodontics take an additional two or three years to complete. Orthodontists diagnose, prevent, and correct the positioning of teeth, as well as the structure and positioning of jaws and skeletal abnormalities. Pediatric dentistry takes an additional two or three years to earn a license in. Pediatric dentists specialize in providing oral health care for infants, children, and adolescents, including infants, children and adolescents with special health care needs. Periodontics requires an additional two or three years to obtain a license in. Periodontists specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases in the tissues surrounding and supporting teeth. They also work on helping the patient maintain health in the structures and tissues, as well as their functions. Prosthodontics takes seven or eight years to earn a license in. Prosthodontists diagnose and plan treatments for oral function and comfort, as well as their appearance and the health of patients that have conditions such as missing teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues. They also help with rehabilitation and maintenance of oral function and comfort. What can you do as a dentist? Dentists can practice privately, in their own clinics. They can also work in a hospital or for academics, such as working in a university. Dentists can also provide public service, such as working in community clinics, for the U.S. Public Health Service, or for the Armed Services — for the Army, Navy, or Air Force. Things to consider A good quality to have as a dentist is being a “people person!” You should enjoy, or be good at, interacting with other people. Another quality is to enjoy complex problem solving, as well as have a deep appreciation for science and art. Dentists are usually very detail-oriented and careful, as there should be little error in this type of career. You should have high standards for your patients, and above all, you must always be a student, as science and technology are always changing and evolving!

Sources: https://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/dental-admission-test https://www.oregondentalanesthesia.com/what-is-a-dentist-anesthesiologist/ https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Dental-Public-Health.aspx https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/e/endodontics#:~:text=Endodontics%20is%20the%20branch%20of,pulp%20tissue%20inside%20the%20tooth. https://www.ada.org/en/ncrdscb/dental-specialties/specialty-definitions#:~:text=Oral%20and%20Maxillofacial%20Pathology%3A%20Oral,and%20effects%20of%20these%20diseases. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/o/oral-and-maxillofacial-radiology