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What Does a Dentist Do?

Dental Care

A dentist is a health care professional who provides preventative, restorative and cosmetic dentistry services. They diagnose and treat oral and dental diseases, perform dental surgery and use advanced technology to create and restore smiles.

They also provide emergency dental services, educate patients on how to maintain their teeth and gums and develop treatment plans. Dentists may work as part of a team, including hygienists and dental assistants to ensure patients receive the highest quality care.

Career Options

A career as a dentist is highly flexible. The profession allows practitioners to set their own hours, lead a personal and professional life and shape the future of oral health care. Some dentists own their practices, while others work as an associate or for other dental offices.

The education required to become a dentist is similar to that of a medical doctor, which means it includes three to four years of undergraduate study and four to seven years of dental school. The degree a dentist earns is called a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine).

To get into dental school, you need to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Many dentists complete a pre-dental program before attending dental school to prepare them for academic and clinical success.

After dental school, dentists have to pass a series of written and oral exams that are regulated by their state’s dental board. In addition, they have to complete continuing education courses on a regular basis.

Good communication skills are important in a dentist’s role. They have to be able to explain procedures in simple terms, make people feel comfortable and help them understand what they can do to improve their oral health.

Listening and empathy are also key to being a great dentist. They should take the more info dentists time to understand their patients’ concerns, never rush them and be empathetic to any issues that may occur.

Problem-solving and manual dexterity are two other critical skills dentists need to have in order to successfully practice their profession. These skills are essential in replacing fillings, making dentures and cleaning teeth.

The ability to be a leader is important in this field as dentists supervise other professionals in the office, including dental hygienists and dental specialists. They are also responsible for scheduling and overseeing patient appointments.

A career in dentistry is often challenging but rewarding, and can be a satisfying career with high earning potential. It is also a career that is growing rapidly and offers a wide variety of professional and personal opportunities to dentists at all stages in their careers.

It is important to choose a dentist who has a strong commitment to continuing education and professional development. This will ensure they stay on top of the latest dental research and trends.

You should also look for a dentist who is certified by the American Dental Association and has a current registration with your state’s dental board. This will show that they have met rigorous standards of practice and treatment.