Dental Careers - Dentist

General dentists are responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of a patient’s oral health. General dentists are trained in all dental procedures but choose not to specialize in only one specific area of dentistry. Dental specialists are dentists who have received additional education and training after receiving licensure as a general dentist. A dental education also gives you access to other career paths, like working in a hospital emergency room, conducting advanced laboratory research, teaching future dentists or even traveling the world with international health and relief organizations.

Top 10 Reasons to Become a Dentist

• Serve Others:  Help people maintain and improve their oral health, quality of life and appearance
• Balance Your Lifestyle:  Dentistry offers flexibility to balance professional and personal life
• Empower Your Patients:  Give patients smiles they are proud to wear
• Research:  Be involved with the scientific advancement of dentistry
• Be a Leader:  Earn respect from your family, friends and community
• Educate:  Be an educator on the importance of oral health
• Detect Disease:  Treat oral health and detect disease - including cancer and cardiovascular disease
• Be Creative:  Merge your artistic and scientific talents
• Succeed:  With the aging population and increase in access to care, the demand and need for dentistry is on the rise
• Choose Your Practice Model:  Own a dental practice and set your own schedule or become an associate in a group practice.

Other Jobs In Dentistry

There is a great demand for dental team positions like dental hygienists, dental assistants and dental lab technicians. Hygienists and assistants interact closely with patients to ensure a high level of care, while dental lab technicians work behind-the-scenes, designing the dentures, crowns and braces used by dentists.

All dental team careers are well paid with flexible hours. The educational costs are also much lower than dental school. Learn more about accredited training programs in your area.