Overview
Dentistry is the branch of the healing arts and sciences devoted to maintaining oral health. It is a dynamic health profession, offering opportunities to become a successful, highly respected member of the community. Dentists enjoy excellent compensation and the high demand for dental care is likely to continue in the future. The realization that oral health can have a serious impact on systemic health drives the expansion of new professional opportunities each year, and a degree in dentistry offers a number of career options, including:
- Academic Dentistry
- General Dentistry Private Practice (Self-Employed, Employee, Associate/Partner)
- Dental Research
- Dental Public Policy
- International Health Care
- Federal Government (Military Dentist)
- Dental Specialties
Dentists are trained to treat all patients, adults and children, in many different treatment facilities and settings. In doing so, a general dentist may:
- Use the latest techniques and equipment to examine the head and neck and oral cavity to identify and diagnose oral conditions that may manifest into systemic disease and determine the oral health of the patient.
- Use the latest radiographic, computer-generated imaging, and other specialized diagnostic techniques to identify diseases of the teeth, supporting bone and gingival tissues, and other tissues in the oral cavity and head and neck.
- Restore and replace teeth damaged by decay, lost from trauma or disease, with newly developed dental materials, implants, and crown and bridge techniques.
- Perform corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum disease.
- Extract teeth when necessary using the most up-to-date anesthetic techniques.
- Eliminate pain arising from oral diseases, conditions and trauma, making use of prescriptive medicines to reduce pain and discomfort.
- Correct mal-positioned teeth to improve chewing, speech, digestion of food and appearance.
- Oversee the administration and business of private practice and frequently employ and supervise a large number of staff and allied dental personnel to help treat their family of patients.
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Evaluate the overall health of their patients including taking and evaluating comprehensive medical histories.
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Provide instruction and advice on oral health care and preventive measures to maintain healthy oral tissues and prevent oral disease.
- Provide instruction and advice on oral health care, including individualized diet analysis, brushing and flossing techniques, the use of fluoridated products and other specialized preventive measures to maintain healthy oral tissues and prevent oral disease.
Approximately 80% of all dentists are general dentists. Additional experience, training or education beyond a DMD or DDS allows general dentists to further specialize in the following fields:
- Endodontics – diagnosis and treatment of injuries that are specific to the dental nerves and pulp (matter inside the tooth).
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology - study and research of the causes, processes, and effects of diseases with oral manifestations.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology - taking and interpretation of conventional, digital, CT, MRI, and allied imaging modalities of oral-facial structures and disease.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – diagnostic services and treatment for injuries, diseases, and defects of the neck, head jaw, and associated structures.
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics – diagnosis and treatment of problems related to irregular dental development, missing teeth, and other abnormalities.
- Pediatric Dentistry – treatment of children from birth to adolescence.
- Periodontics - corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum disease.
- Prosthodontics - restoration and replacement of teeth damaged by decay, lost from trauma or disease, with fixed or removable appliances constructed with newly developed dental material.
- Dental Public Health - development of policies and programs, such as health care reform, that affect the community at large.
You can download, save and print a PDF of this career profile:
Dentist 14 May 2008 [pdf, 188 KB]
To meet a dentist, see the NIH "Lifeworks" Website. For a listing of accredited dental schools in the United States, see the American Dental Education Association or American Dental Association Websites.
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Average Salary: $204,500
- $0
Years in school: 8
- 8 *
Job outlook: Excellent
* after high school graduation
Student Profile
Maryse Manasse, DMD
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Dedicated to recruiting students from underrepresented minorities, so graduates can reach out to all communities
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