How long does it take to become a dentist? Being a dentist is challenging, but professions are rewarding.
It is challenging to be a dentist and there are many more challenging tasks that dentists face these days in addition to paying off debts. I will go to both the pros and cons as well as sharing dental related information to try and paint a more realistic picture of what the dentist requires to help you make the right decision in terms of being a dentist or not.
Education and Time:
Education and Time To become a dentist, you will spend at least 7-8 years in high school following school. This is not a requirement major you choose. There is no major specialty for dental school; however, most of the pre-dental students opt for large Science. There are special classes needed before entering the dentistry school and each dental school can vary on what they need and what they suggest, but for more information about the course to take during your undergraduate studies.
After your dental school will become a dentist. You have the option of going to a post-graduate program such as 1 year of Residency General Practice or Advanced Education in the General Dentistry program to gain more experience and improve your clinical skills as a general dentist. You may also choose to specialize in any of the dentistry fields that revolve this postgraduate program from an additional 2-6 years, depending on the specialization, the school is in order to complete.
In addition to spending at least 5-6 years of your life at school in order to become a dentist, you will spend many hours doing demanding and exhausting work on your patients throughout your career. Most dentists work full time and some will even work nights and weekends.
Overview of Dentistry
A dentist is a health professional who holds a doctorate, Dentist (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) – both degrees mean the same thing and are accepted by the same education. It is up to the dental school to decide at which level they will award in their school.
Here are 9 dental specialties option for the student:
Specialized fields of dentistry are Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics, Endodontics, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, and Dental Health. Programs and residencies range from additional 1-6 years of follow-up training and dental schools.
If the dentist does not want to do the advanced training then they can start working in different fields as a general dentist. These areas include academic, research, military, public health, corporate dentistry, private practice, joint training, international health care, or hospital care. There are many options to choose from and you can decide your own path in dentistry and what kind of patient or area you want to treat and work on.
If you’re ready to start preparing for the DAT exam, check out my guide on how to best prepare. You’ll also want to check out the best DAT study materials to make sure you’re as ready as possible.
Also, here are some links from the American Dental Association (ADA) as well as the American Dental Association Student (ASDA) that will provide you with additional insights and career-related information in dentistry.
