Dentistry is a rewarding career choice for many reasons. In the opening paragraphs, we’ll provide quick answers to common questions about why dentistry is a great profession to pursue.
What are the benefits of being a dentist?
There are many excellent benefits to being a dentist:
- High earning potential – Dentists are well compensated and can expect a median pay of over $150,000 per year.
- Flexibility – Many dentists are self-employed and can control their own schedules.
- Helping people – Dentists improve people’s oral health and quality of life every day.
- Prestige – Dentistry is a respected profession and dentists are viewed as healthcare experts.
- Career options – Dentists can choose to specialize or work in a variety of settings.
- Work-life balance – Most dentists work reasonable, family-friendly schedules.
What is the day-to-day work of a dentist like?
A typical day in the life of a dentist may include:
- Examining patients’ teeth, gums, and oral health.
- Providing preventive dental care like cleanings, fluoride treatments, and sealants.
- Taking x-rays and reviewing results.
- Diagnosing oral health issues and creating treatment plans.
- Performing common procedures like fillings, extractions, crowns, bridges, and root canals.
- Educating patients on proper oral hygiene and nutrition.
- Managing the dental office, support staff, and business matters.
Dentists get to focus their day on caring for patients, improving oral health, and performing rewarding procedures. No two days are ever quite the same in the varied and fulfilling work of a dentist.
What are the steps to become a dentist?
Here is an overview of the typical steps required to become a dentist:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree – A B.S. or B.A. is required for admission to dental school.
- Take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) – This standardized test assesses academic readiness for dental programs.
- Apply to and attend dental school – Dental school takes 4 years to complete.
- Obtain state licensure – All dentists must be licensed in their state to practice.
- Consider residency or specialty training – This is 1-3 extra years of intensive training.
The journey takes 8+ years of education and training after high school, but it is a worthwhile investment for this rewarding career.
What are some dental specialties to consider?
There are many exciting specialties within dentistry to consider pursuing:
Specialty | Description |
---|---|
Orthodontics | Focuses on diagnosing, preventing, and treating dental and facial irregularities through devices like braces, retainers, and aligners. |
Oral Surgery | Involves performing surgeries on the face, mouth, and jaws to treat issues related to extraction, implants, facial trauma, cleft palate, and pathology. |
Endodontics | Concentrates on preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and injuries of dental pulp and performing procedures like root canals. |
Pediatric Dentistry | Focuses on providing complete dental care for infants, children, teens, and those with special healthcare needs. |
Periodontics | Diagnoses and treats diseases of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth and dental implants. |
Choosing a specialty allows dentists to gain advanced expertise in an area of interest.
What is the job outlook for dentists?
The job outlook for dentists is excellent. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of dentists is projected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. Several key factors contribute to this growth:
- Population growth will lead to greater demand for dentists.
- An aging population retaining more teeth will require more dental care.
- Dentists retiring will create job openings.
- Expanding insurance coverage increases patients’ access to dental services.
In addition to growing job opportunities, dentist positions have a low unemployment rate. The need for dentists is expected to continue increasing in the years ahead.
What are some alternatives to becoming a dentist?
Here are a few alternative, related careers to consider if you are interested in healthcare and dentistry, but don’t want to commit to the 8+ years to become a dentist:
- Dental Hygienist – Works under dentists to provide cleanings, exams, and preventive oral care.
- Dental Assistant – Supports dentists in managing patient care and office duties.
- Dental Laboratory Technician – Creates crowns, bridges, dentures and other dental appliances.
- Dental Office Manager – Oversees the business, administrative, and staff supervision aspects of a dental practice.
These careers allow you to work around dentistry with less schooling, but lower salaries than a licensed dentist.
What qualities make a good dentist?
Great dentists possess these essential qualities:
- Dexterity – They are able to utilize fine motor skills and work with small, intricate tools and spaces in patients’ mouths.
- Focus – They pay close attention to detail for long periods of time during procedures.
- Interpersonal skills – They can communicate well with diverse patients to educate and put them at ease.
- Compassion – They are caring, sympathetic, and concerned about patients’ well-being.
- Stamina – They have the physical stamina for potentially long, tiring days seeing numerous patients.
- Resourcefulness – They can think critically and problem-solve challenges that arise when treating patients.
- Business skills – They are able to effectively manage a dental practice and team (if self-employed).
Dentists blend physical abilities with “people skills” and sharp critical thinking to deliver high quality patient care.
What are some challenges of being a dentist?
While dentistry is very rewarding, there are also some notable challenges in the profession:
- Occupational hazards – Dentists are exposed to infections and use powerful equipment, requiring vigilance.
- Physical demands – Sitting hunched over patients and performing fine motor tasks can be taxing.
- Stress – Meeting high patient volumes and expectations each day can be demanding.
- Business ownership – Those who are practice owners have the added pressure of managing a team and budgets.
- Continuing education – Dentists must complete ongoing training to stay current on the latest techniques.
- Student debt – The cost of dental school results in over $200,000 of debt on average.
However, most dentists feel the rewards outweigh the challenges. Excellent benefits, reasonable work-life balance, and the opportunity to improve patients’ health make dentistry an appealing choice.
Conclusion
Dentistry offers a robust job market, high earning potential, flexible scheduling, and the chance to really impact patients’ health. Although the path requires extensive education and licensing, the benefits of being a dentist make it an attractive profession for those interested in healthcare. With strong demand for dentists projected in the years ahead, it is a smart career choice now and into the future.