As long as there are people with teeth, there will be a need for dentists. A dentist is responsible for helping people maintain healthy teeth and gums, and for performing a variety of other functions to help their patients' mouths stay healthy. A dentist will provide patients with cleanings, guide them towards appropriate foods for ensuring oral health, and give patients tips on proper brushing and flossing.
A dentist does more than just provide preventative care for oral health. He or she will often use an x-ray machine, as well as perform surgeries and extractions of damaged teeth. If it is possible to repair a damaged tooth, the dentist will often do his or her best to save the tooth from needing to be pulled. In cases where surgery is necessary, the dentist will give a local anesthetic to the patient. He or she may also write prescriptions for medication to relieve pain, or for antibiotics to eliminate or pre-treat an infection.
A dentist must also use a wide array of machines and equipment in order to help patients maintain healthy mouths. Among these instruments and tools are mouth mirrors, drills, forceps, probes, brushes, needles and scalpels. A dentist must also wear safety goggles, gloves, and a mask to minimize the risk of becoming infected with a disease.
Becoming a Dentist
A person wishing to pursue a dentist career will first need to take some very specific courses in college. Courses of study commonly taken by dentists include health, physics, chemistry, and biology. An undergraduate student who wishes to pursue a career in dentistry will also need to take several other science courses. In fact, many undergrads choose to major in one of the sciences before entering a graduate dentistry program.
Typically, dental programs take about 4 years to complete. These programs usually begin with classroom study and then gradually move on to lab work, and even supervised treatment of patients in actual clinics. Generally, after the completion of two years of study, dental students can begin working closely with a licensed dentist in order to gain experience.
In the majority of states, to become a licensed dentist, one must pass a practical as well as a written exam, to demonstrate sufficient expertise in the field. In addition, it is necessary to have a degree from an accredited school of dentistry.
For the written part of the exam, a potential dentist will have to pass the National Board Dental Exam. Individual state requirements can differ, but a potential dentist may also be required to finish an additional two-to-four years of study if he or she wishes to specialize in a particular area of dentistry.
