The Future of Dentist Choosing a Dental Career

Employment of dentists is projected to average growth for all occupations through 2014. Although employment growth will provide some job opportunities, most jobs will result from the need to replace the large number of dentists who retire. Job prospects should be good as new dentists take over established practices, or your own - henry schein dental careers.

The demand for dental care should grow substantially through 2014. A large number of people who need complicated dental work such as bridges. In addition, older people are more likely to retain their teeth than their predecessors, so it requires more care than in the past. The younger generation will continue to need preventive checkups despite treatments such as fluoridation of water supplies, reducing the incidence of tooth decay. However, employment of dentists is not expected to grow as fast as the demand for dental services. As their practices expand, dentists are more likely to employ dental hygienists and dental assistants to handle routine services.

Dentists increasingly provide care and instruction aimed at preventing the loss of teeth, rather than simply providing treatments such as fillings. Improvements in dental technology also allow dentists to offer more effective and less painful treatment to their patients.

Dentists diagnose, prevent and treat problems with teeth or mouth tissue. They remove decay, fill cavities, examine x rays, sealants, plastic instead of protecting children's teeth, straighten teeth, and repair fractured teeth. They also perform corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum disease. Dentists extract teeth and make models and measurements for dentures to replace missing teeth. They provide instructions on diet, brushing, flossing, use of fluorides, and other aspects of dental care. They also administer anesthetics and write prescriptions for antibiotics and other medications.

Dentists use a variety of equipment, including X-ray machines, drills, and instruments such as mouth mirrors, probes, tweezers, brushes and scalpels. Wear masks, gloves and safety glasses to protect themselves and their patients from infectious diseases.

Dentists in private practice monitor a variety of administrative tasks, including accounting and purchasing equipment and supplies. You can employ and supervise dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental laboratory technicians, and receptionists.

Most dentists are general practitioners, handling a variety of dental needs. Other dentists practice in any of nine specialty areas. Orthodontists, the largest group of specialists, straighten teeth by applying pressure to the teeth with braces or retainers.

The next largest group, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, operates on the mouth and jaw. The remainder may specialize as pediatric dentists (focusing on dentistry for children), periodontics (treatment of gums and bone supporting the teeth), prosthodontists (replacing missing teeth with permanent installations, such as crowns and bridges, or removable appliances as dentures), endodontists (performing root canal), public health dentists (promoting good dental health and prevention of dental disease in the community); oral pathologists (studying oral diseases), or oral radiologists and maxillofacial (diagnosis of disease in head and neck using imaging technologies).

Dental hygienists remove soft and hard deposits from teeth, teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene and provide other preventive dental care.

Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, lab and homework. They make patients as comfortable as possible in the dental chair, prepare them for treatment, and obtain their dental records.

When patients require a special application to chew and speak well, their health care providers send requests to the dental laboratory technicians.

After fabrication, medical appliance technicians test devices for proper alignment, movement and stability using meters and alignment facilities. You can also set the device on the patient and adjust as needed. Over time the appliance is worn, so technicians must repair and maintain the device.

Most dentists work 4 or 5 days a week. Some nights and weekends working to meet the needs of their patients. Most full-time dentists work between 35 and 40 hours a week, but others work more. Initially, dentists may work more hours, as they establish their practice. Experienced dentists often work fewer hours. Many continue in part-time practice well beyond the normal retirement age.

Most dentists are solo, which means that they own their own businesses and work alone or with a small team. Some dentists have partners, and some work for other dentists as associate dentists.

Dentistry requires diagnostic ability and manual skills. Dentists should have good visual memory view, excellent in terms of space and form, a high degree of manual dexterity and scientific capacity. Good business sense, self-discipline and good communication skills are helpful for success in private practice. The high school and college students who want to become dentists should take courses in biology, chemistry, physics, health, and mathematics.

Dental schools require a minimum of 2 years of college education predental, despite the big election. However, most dental students have at least a bachelor's degree. Predental Education emphasizes courses in science, and many applicants to dental school major in a science like biology or chemistry, while other leading candidates in another subject and take many science courses. A few applicants are accepted to dental school after 2 or 3 years of college and complete their degree while attending dental school.

All dental schools require applicants to take the Dental admissions test (DAT). In selecting students, schools consider the scores obtained in the DAT, applicants grade averages, and information gathered through recommendations and interviews.

The dental school usually lasts 4 academic years. Studies begin with classroom instruction and laboratory work in basic sciences, including anatomy, microbiology, biochemistry and physiology. Beginning courses in clinical sciences, including laboratory techniques, are also provided at this time. During the past 2 years, students treat patients, usually in dental clinics, under the supervision of licensed dentists. Some dental school graduates work for established dentists as associates for 1 to 2 years to gain experience and save money to equip an office. Most dental school graduates, however, buy an established practice or open a new one immediately after graduation.