If you have ever thought about becoming a dentist, this article is for you. I personally pursue to be a dentist for a long time, and I am studying in that direction. I will try to make you learn everything you need to know about becoming a dentist and show you why you should choose this career.
Being a dentist is having to rebuild someone’s smile. It’s helping people and make sure to satisfy every patient. It’s taking care of someone’s health. Sometimes, you start following patient as kids, see them become teenagers and adults. You make many kinds of treatments which make your day different from one to another. Every day you face a new challenge even if you do common treatments because every patient is different. Dentistry is a job full of possibilities. Your skills as a dentist can be useful for many other healthcare professions such as cosmetic treatments, education, and research.
A dentist have to deal with all procedures that involves actual manipulation of the teeth or gums. Dentists have to prevent their patients from many diseases such as swollen, cavities, bleeding gums, or tooth decay. They also need to educate patients about how to preserve a healthy mouth. Dentists now provide cosmetic care like whitening teeth which is really popular to give the impression of a good hygiene in our society. What we less often think about is that dentists also need to manage paperwork and insurance claims.
Dentists usually work 7 to 10 hours a day except when emergencies happen, and they have to lengthen their shift. For example, Dr. Charlotte Leigh gets to her workplace at 9 a.m. She looks at her list of the day, tell her nurse what she needs to prepare and check all the equipment needed for the day. She chats with her colleagues, drinks her coffee, and she’s ready at 9.30 a.m. to start practice. Her morning session runs 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. She can see a patient every half hour for short treatments or check-ups. For longer treatments, she can see about three to four patients. Then, she has lunch between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Finally, she continues seeing patients until 6 p.m. before leaving.
The typical workplaces for a dentist are clinics, public health facilities, hospitals, private practice and universities. Their work environment is mainly indoor and in environmentally controlled spaces. In every environment where dentists are in contact with patients, they use dangerous chemicals substances, use biological agents, and they are in contact with radiation which can occur skin injury. This is why specialized safety equipment are used in the workplace. There is also sound and noise created by the equipment, the machinery and the tools used by dentists. Finally, dentists have physical proximity with patients in their environment. They need to be very close and to touch their patients which increases the risk of exposure to a disease. Also, working in group practices instead of private practices cuts back on insurance and overhead expenses. That’s why dentists prefer working in groups' nowadays.
To become a dentist you need two to four years of pre-dentistry university studies or, in Quebec, completion of a college program in sciences and a university degree from a recognized dental program. You will also require a licensing by a provincial or territorial regulatory body. Finally, if you want to move into a specialized practice, you will have to do advanced training.
Dentists start earning significant incomes after 10 years of practice. Last year, the median salary was $110 000/year in Canada. In Quebec, the median wage was $106 000/year and the highest was $228 000/year. We can say dentists are very well-paid!
When you graduate, you still have a supervisor who makes sure you do your job even if you have your own patients. This more experienced person will oversee your work, tutor and support you. They are there to guide you and to help you face the reality of the job. Dentists can also receive additional training to specialize in fields such as orthodontics or oral surgery. Oral surgeons have to do four to seven years of specialty residency training in their field. Orthodontists have to do three years of advanced orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics program accredited by the Canadian Dental Association.
Dentists are sometimes disliked by the public. Many people hate dentists, and it can be frustrating and eventually lead them to depression. Also, as I said previously, dentists work in an environment that can affect their physical health and where they risk being exposed to disease.
Chances are slim that dentists will be replaced by robots soon. Even if artificial intelligence can mimic human abilities, it can't replace human intelligence or clinical judgment. However, IA is growing in the healthcare system and bring innovations in a profession like dentistry.
Even after 30 years of service, most dentists are still working full time in their job. It’s after 40 years that some dentists start retiring, but it’s not the majority.
For my part, I probably want to be a dentist first and maybe to be an orthodontist after a couple years of practice as a dentist. I am currently at college in my second year and I will complete my program after three years. After that, I wish to be accepted in dentistry at university. I will complete my degree and start my dream job.
Rationale: to inform or educate
Authority: recognized author
Date: still relevant
Accuracy: probably true
Relevance: relevant for this document
Sources: no sources cited
Rationale: to inform or educate
Authority: government
Date: still relevant
Accuracy: probably true
Relevance: relevant for this document
Sources: cites sources
Rationale: to inform or educate
Authority: recognized author
Date: still relevant
Accuracy: probably true
Relevance: relevant for this document
Sources: cites sources