When it comes to our oral health, dentists are the number one health care professionals seeking knowledge and help. They play a vital role in helping us maintain oral hygiene, prevent gum disease and get a healthy and bright smile.
Just like other roles in the medical department, the demand for dentists is increasing. Whether you want to be a hygienist, an oral surgeon or an orthodontist, you may need to complete a bachelor's degree and/or a doctor's degree in dentistry, so as to build a platform on which to accumulate the knowledge and skills needed for work in this field.
Course structure and entrance requirements
In order to provide students with the foundation of dental science, undergraduate dental degrees are also professional, which means that they will provide students with training and preparation for dental positions at the end of the course. Most bachelor's degrees in dentistry will include modules in anatomy, physiology, biology, patient care and pharmacology, and a learning form combining theory and practice.
School of dentistry
Generally speaking, it takes five years to complete a bachelor's degree in dentistry, but it largely depends on where you choose to study in the world; For example, in the United States, full-time dental schools usually take four years to complete, which means that those students who complete the general undergraduate degree first need eight years; This also means that you can become a dentist without completing a bachelor's degree. You can choose to combine a bachelor's degree with a doctoral degree (or you can complete it in less time).
Usually, students can expect to gain basic knowledge and understanding of biology, physics, chemistry and biochemistry in the first year, and combine the actual training of different types of patients in the later stage of the course, but the course structure of most dental courses often varies with your study place. If you choose to study in the United States, you will receive training in graduate schools (that is, dental surgeons (DDS) or dental doctors (DMD) programs), while in Britain, you usually start clinical work in the second year, and students work in teaching hospitals and community dental clinics. In addition, British students can also choose to participate in modules to enhance their professional knowledge in children's dentistry, dental prosthetics, dental radiology and radiology.
Admission requirements
Generally speaking, dentistry is a strict academic course, and applicants must prove their extensive abilities-theory and practice. However, the admission requirements for dental degrees will vary from institution to institution and a series of other factors. To apply for dental schools in the United States, applicants must get high marks in pre-science courses and dental entrance examinations.
In Britain, applicants for dental degrees usually need to get A-level grades in biology and physics, and some key universities will additionally require good grades in AS and GCSEs. Due to the technical nature of dentistry, some institutions even put forward relatively unusual requirements for degrees in science, including requiring applicants to demonstrate their skilled skills through music or artistic hobbies.
Special courses
Dental specialization
Although all dental degrees revolve around the same academic focus-most student dentists enter general dental clinics after one or two years of vocational training-there are several different research topics to choose from in the dental field. Of course, many people will eventually specialize in more general fields, such as orthodontics and oral surgery. Here are some brief introductions:
Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Dental work
Oral and maxillofacial surgery mainly treats diseases, defects and injuries of soft and hard tissues in the head, neck, face, jaw and oral region. Because the profession in this field needs complicated, potentially risky or complicated surgery, it is necessary, and dental graduates can prove good medical knowledge and a series of technical and behavioral skills and abilities.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics is a dental specialty, focusing on the diagnosis, prevention and correction of dislocation of teeth and mandible. It combines the elements of health and beauty, which means that student orthodontists are trained to use a wide range of dental knowledge and orthodontic tools. To study this major, you usually need to complete a bachelor's degree in dentistry and then continue your research in this field. Orthodontic training programs in Britain last for three years, combining academic and clinical training.
Endodontics
Endodontics, like oral and maxillofacial surgery, prevents and treats oral diseases through surgery, but the difference is that it only treats dental pulp and soft tissues around teeth. The duties of endodontists are to treat tooth injuries and fractures and perform procedures such as root canal therapy.
Children dentistry
Dental work
If you are interested in dental work and children's work, then children's dentistry is very suitable for you. Pediatric dentists are committed to the oral health of children and adolescents. Because working in pediatric dentistry revolves around working with children, you need to be compassionate and able to communicate effectively, not only with young patients, but also with their parents, so as to establish and maintain vital trust and understanding.
vocational selection
Dental work
Because a dental degree is a profession, once you finish your studies, you are likely to be a dentist. However, as mentioned above, a small number of dental graduates occasionally engage in academic work in the dental department (that is, medical researchers or university lecturers), and even get positions in medical device design and other fields. In addition, it is also useful to remember that not all dentists work in dental clinics or hospitals; Some people may continue to work in universities or the army. The following is an overview of the dental work you can consider:
Ordinary dentist
Dental work
When we have oral or dental problems, general dentists are usually the first dental experts we ask for help, and account for the majority of dental graduates in the world. They have regular dental examinations, provide guidance and advice on oral care for patients, and refer patients to other dental experts when necessary-list some procedures and responsibilities. General dentists often deal with patients of all ages and needs and work closely with other dental care professionals, such as dental hygienists, orthodontists and oral surgeons.
To become a general dentist, you need a recognized dental degree and at least five years of clinical training, followed by one or two years of supervised practice.
dental hygienist
The responsibility of dental hygienists is to ensure that patients obtain and maintain the best oral hygiene, and perform various procedures (sometimes under general anesthesia), such as performing various oral evaluations, polishing teeth, removing dental plaque and stains, and performing non-surgical periodontal treatment.
Most licensed dentists work in private dental clinics and hospitals (general clinics and specialist clinics), although some may practice in other environments, such as dental schools and health education programs, private/public centers (such as nursing homes) that provide services for patients with special needs, and private enterprises/industries.
Before you become a dental hygienist, you must take an undergraduate course in oral health science or dental hygiene/dental treatment, and then continue your academic and/or internship training for 2-4 years.
Orthodontist
School of dentistry
Orthodontists are good at correcting and maintaining the arrangement of teeth and jaws. They check the overall dental health of patients, conduct X-ray examination and analysis, install dental instruments such as braces, splints and various types of retainers, and regularly evaluate patients throughout the orthodontic treatment.
Becoming an orthodontist may take a long time to study and train. Science or dental graduates usually need to complete further four years of postgraduate study, followed by two to three years of professional clinical and academic training before they are eligible for recognized independent practice qualifications.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon
Because this is a dental profession, you need to perform a series of oral and maxillofacial surgery, which is undoubtedly the most challenging of all dental work in the world.
In the United States, you must get a bachelor's degree in dentistry for four years, and then get an additional four years of dental school study and four to six years of clinical and academic training for residents in oral and maxillofacial surgery, which requires a total of 12 to 14 years of specialized study and preparation.
If you are in the UK, you can choose some different courses, including an accelerated dental course (3 years), which is open to people with medical degrees, and a 3-year intensive medical postgraduate course (open to people with recognized dental degrees).
However, most oral surgeons usually receive dental training before receiving doctor training, because it is very important to have two qualifications.
Other dental work
If you get a degree in dentistry and find that dentistry is not suitable for you, you also have many career choices, including becoming a university lecturer or medical researcher in your research field, or even a writer or reporter specializing in dental health. If you find that you may not be competent for all the duties and leadership of a qualified dentist, but still want to continue to engage in clinical work, you can apply for the position of dental assistant. If you have a strong interest in medical instruments and dental tools, you can even find a job as a dental technician, which allows you to design, manufacture and maintain dental instruments.