Dentistry
Your Smile Is Your Fortune
Basic Work
Dentists work alongside dental assistants, who help with record-keeping, sterilizing instruments, and teeth-cleaning. And like a dental hygienist, a dentist might also clean teeth and educate patients on proper dental care. Their other duties could also include extracting teeth, fitting dentures, and filling cavities. Some choose to specialize in areas that range from treating serious oral problems and diseases to straightening teeth and performing oral surgery.
Salary & Benefits
BENEFITS
- Holidays
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- Group Supplemental Term Life Insurance
- Retirement Plans
SALARY
It's time to talk money! The salary of the dental assistants ranges from $25,000 to $40,000. It varies according to the specialization, location, experience and other factors. In short, dental assistants earn fairly well.
School
Anyone wishing to be a dentist often requires two to three years in college before going to dental school which gets you your Bachelors degree. Dental school takes another four years of schooling. Dental school is broken down into two years of classroom coursework and pre-clinical labs and two years of mostly clinical experiences. The first year of dental school is typically composed of basic science courses including gross anatomy, medical physiology, microbiology & immunology, cell biology, along with some introduction to dental courses like intro to operative dentistry with some pre-clinical work, oral microbiology, dental anatomy, intro to oral radiology, and maybe periodontology. You will likely have a class in ethics and an overview class that gives you an introduction to all the basics of dentistry. Pre-clinical work during the first year will typically involve waxing teeth and basic cavity preparations and fillings on plastic teeth.
Working Conditions
- Dentists held about 155,700 jobs in 2010. Some dentists own their own businesses and work alone or with a small staff. Other dentists have partners in their practice, and a few work for more established dentists as associate dentists.
- Dentists usually work in offices. They wear masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect themselves and their patients from infectious diseases.
- Most dentists work full time. Some work evenings and weekends to meet their patients' needs. The number of hours worked varies greatly among dentists. It is common for dentists to continue in part-time practice well beyond the usual retirement age.
Pros &* Cons
Pros
Salary
Can set hours if private practice
Ability to help people and go home satisfied knowing you made a difference
Ability to afford an excellent lifestyle for your family.
Cons
Years in school
Long hours in some specialties
Dealing with peoples inproper hygiene
Paying off school loans
Promotion Opportunities
Most dentists advance through increased pay and education. Some advance into management positions and supervise other hygienists. Those who obtain a bachelor's or master's degree may become teachers, researchers, or administrators in dental programs. Some dentists become dental sales representatives.