Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Role of a Dentist?
A dentist is a doctor who specializes in treating the teeth, gums, and mouth.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Dentist?
In general, it takes eight years to become a dentist. The first four years are spent as an undergraduate, earning a bachelor’s degree, and the final four years are undertaken at dental school, where a DDS or DMD must be successfully earned.
What Does a Dentist Do?
A dentist oversees all aspects of a person’s oral hygiene and is responsible for monitoring and treating any dental issues that arise. Typical duties undertaken by dentists include cleaning teeth and gums, removing and filling cavities and damaged teeth, and prescribing medicine to treat oral diseases and infections.
Dentists also use sealants and whitening agents to improve the look of the teeth, administer anesthetic before dental procedures, take x-rays of the teeth, jaws, and gums, diagnose oral diseases, and create models for items including dentures, crowns, and partials. Giving patients proper education regarding how oral hygiene and diet can affect their teeth and gums, and applying braces and other teeth-correcting devices also come under the remit of a dentist’s duties.
What Are Some Examples of Dental Specialties?
The American Dental Association recognizes 12 dental specialties: dental public health, dental anesthesiology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral medicine, orofacial pain, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, periodontics, and prosthodontics.
Is it Compulsory for Newly Qualified Dentists to Complete a Residency Program?
Dentists can begin independently practicing as soon as they receive their dental degree. For some specialties, however, dentists must complete additional training via a residency program. Such programs typically involve two to three years of study and train dentists in specialized techniques.
What Does it Cost to Train to Become a Dentist?
The average dental school tuition in the first year is, nationally, $53,242. There are other costs associated with becoming a dentist, too, such as the $525 it costs to take the Dental Admission Test.
What Are the Benefits of Pursuing a Career in Dentistry?
Dentists often find their career a rewarding one. Witnessing how the treatment they provide positively impacts the confidence of their patients is key to this, as is helping their patients maintain and enhance their oral health. Many dentists also report enjoying a pleasant working environment, a rewarding salary and benefits package, and a regular, full-time schedule with weekends and holidays off.