Dentist
Health Science
Job Duties/Responsibilites
- Examine,diagnose,and treat patients' teeth.
- Remove decay from teeth and fill cavities.
- Repaired cracked or fractured teeth and remove teeth.
- Straighten teeth to correct bite issues.
- Provides advice and information on taking care of teeth and gums.
Work Environment
- Dentists usually work in offices indoor.
- Some dentists own their own businesses and work alone or with a small staff.
- They wear masks,gloves,and safety glasses to protect themselves and their patients from infectious diseases.
Days and Hours Worked
- Fulltime dentists spends at least 36 hours per week.
- 7-10 hours per day,except when emergencies arise,which can lengthen the work day.
Starting Salary and Salary Range With Experience
- Starting salary per hour:$80.
- Experience per year:$187,200.
Education/Training Required
- Dentists must be licensed in all states,requirements vary by state.
- Must graduate from an accredited dental school and pass written and practical exams.
- A advanced degree from accredited dental schools.
- Needs at least a bachelor's degree before entering dental school.
- All dental schools requires applicants to completed certain required science courses,such as biology and chemistry.
Advices
- Be excellent in chemistry,biology,and mathematics.
- Take classes in local anesthesia,anatomy,periodontology,and radiology.
Positive and Negative Aspects of a Dentist
Positives:
- Higher wages.
- Short hours of work per week.
- Help more people with their teeth problems.
- You'll have to work long hours when you first started out.
- You may have to be on call for dental emergencies.
- You'll have to endure the feeling of apprehension that a patient might have toward dental treatment.
One Related Career
- Optometrists examines the eyes and other parts of the visual system.
Sources
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- acinet.org