For many young adults and children, going to the dentist can be frightening. Yet each visit makes them more interested in becoming a dentist when they grow up. Much like those in other medical fields, those who are unaware of what their dentists did to get in a position to treat patients, the process of education, accreditation, and overall learning can be surprising. All of this shows why dentists like Dr. Kourosh Kianpour are some of the most trained as well as respected members of the medical community. It also serves as a great way to educate younger patients about patience and dedication
Dentists take care of the oral health of adults and children. It has been found that oral health affects the entire body and getting the right level of care from a professional is a crucial part of treatment. There are steps that need to be taken to become a dentist that goes along with most other medical professions. In addition to this, dentists are also seeking out new technology and learning techniques that change the way things are done.
Education
To become a dentist someone must attend an accredited dental school for four years. The dental school will be longer if they decide on a specialty. Usually, before applying, a student has completed a four-year undergraduate bachelor’s degree. There are science courses that can be helpful if someone wants to be a dentist such as biology, physics, and chemistry.
Before applying to dental school, a DAT or dental admissions, test needs to be taken, a minimum score needs to be met before going any further. To get into a dental school the student needs not only a bachelor’s degree, and a high DAT score but also a good grade point average, recommendation letters, and interviews.
While in dental school, the first two of the four years are filled with classroom work and laboratory studies. The last two years allow for hands-on diagnosis and treatment of patients while still receiving instruction. At the end of the four years, a student must decide whether to pick a specialty or take the test for licensure in the state they want to practice. Specialties can be like orthodontics and pediatric dentistry. All states require a license for dentistry. The requirements can vary with some states adding CPR or a background check.
Specialties
While a dentist can choose to go into private practice there are many other options for them. Public health dentistry stands out as one part of the profession that is rewarding to the community. As a public health dentist, the work involves helping advocate for good dental health and policy. They can be used on Indian Reservations and federal prisons in addition to clinics or standard practices.
The specialty of academic dentistry teaches and is involved in research on all parts of oral care. These dentists train future dentists, while researchers work on new ideas for the care of the patients. Some of the innovations that come from their work include implants and lasers.
Hospital dentistry works on those in the hospital setting, including patients that can be in the emergency room or operating room. A pediatric dentist is one who has specialized in working with children. They see to it that the children get a good start on dental health. Oral and maxillofacial surgery, radiology and pathology are all popular specialties that focus more on invasive solutions to certain issues.
