Steady hands and strong academic standing will go a long way if you are
considering a degree in dentistry.
To get into most dental programs, you'll need two years of college-level
pre-dental education with a focus on science. You will also have to pass
a series of tests. Academic standing and grade point average also count for
a lot.
Dentistry undergraduate programs are four years long. Grads receive a doctor
of dental surgery degree.
In a dentistry program, studies include cariology (the decay process),
fillings, clinical diagnosis, X-ray treatment, tooth manipulation and more.
Rick Easton is an assistant professor of dentistry. He notes that applicants
to his undergraduate program are selected after at least two years of university
courses with emphasis on physics and chemistry.
Raymond Braham is a professor of pediatric dentistry at the University
of California. He says clinical programs are emphasized in the second year.
That includes courses in pharmacology (the effects of drugs), preventive dentistry,
oral pathology (diseases of the mouth), diagnosis and treatment planning.
Students spend their third year treating patients while under supervision.
By the fourth year, they provide comprehensive patient care.
You'll need postgraduate training if you want to become a licensed specialist
in a field such as orthodontics or periodontics.
"Programs are three to six years and usually have a master's degree component,"
says Easton. Acceptance is based on academic standing, letters of reference
and an interview.
"A student must have successfully completed the dental education program
before applying," says Richard Ceen. He is a professor of orthodontics at
Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas.
Ceen's program consists of about 3,000 hours of instruction. About 60 percent
of that is patient care.
Ceen notes that most prospective students emphasize the biological sciences.
But he says they should also have a solid grasp of the humanities.
"It's important to remember that they are entering a profession that deals
with the needs of patients, not machinery," he says.
Textbooks can be expensive. And clinical supplies can cost more
than $10,000.
The American Dental Association accredits U.S. programs.
Links
Occupational Outlook Handbook
For more information related to this field of study, see: Dentists
American Dental Association -- Education Page
Info on licensing, a list of schools and more
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