The primary thing a dentist does is to provide good health for oral gums. This includes advising the patient to various ways by which they can prevent decay of the teeth and gums and also taking curative steps when a patient comes to him with sick oral health. Dentists do not usually carry out a routine dental check up. It's a job reserved for a dental hygienist. A dentist examines the teeth and the gums and various other jobs such as tooth extractions and fillings. Also some experts and specialists in cosmetic dental care and in oral surgeries can perform additional services for their patients such as providing white gleaming teeth for those such as celebrities and power people to whom these things matter. But with these additional tasks and services to be rendered comes the additional responsibility of ensuring proper care for the patients. One important duty of every dentist is to properly train his staff and assistants, which indirectly results into good care being taken of the patients.
The responsibilities of a dentist are complex and varied. Not only does a dentist have a responsibility towards his or her patients but also he/she has a responsibility towards his ethics and his profession and has to uphold his professional integrity and is absolutely truthful towards his profession in order to fulfill his responsibilities and attain work satisfaction. While taking a still broader view, it can be said that it is the responsibility of a dentist is to ensure that dental care is provided to the maximum amount of the public. Ideally, this would mean providing dental care to those who can't afford it. This is very vital because a dentist occupies an important place in creating public awareness about dental care.
Dentists have to spend the majority of the time working with the common man, so he should have the ability to make patients feel welcomed and relaxed. Dentists should be able to listen communicate and understand what patients are telling him. He should also be able to communicate well with his dental staff. He should have good business sense to get success in his field. To become dentist one needs to have a bachelor's degree at an accredited college. To get into a good medical college one should get good marks in biology, chemistry and physics. It is very crucial to get really good marks in their pre medical exam. Dental college is four years long and includes training in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, and clinical science. It also includes the session in which they have to attend to patients under the guidance of licensed dentists. After completing this, dentists are awarded with the degree of either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM).Before beginning to practice all dentists must be licensed by the state. It is comprised of written and practical components. If any dentist wishes to specialize he needs to be licensed in that specialization also.
Most dentists do have a private practice. In order to do this one has to own a place in the area where he gets minimum competition. Or he needs to purchase a dental clinic of a successful and flourishing dentist.
As per a recent expected report, overall employment growth will create some job openings, but most openings will result from the need to replace the population of retiring dentists. The demand for dentists is growing as population increases, especially of the persons in the higher age group and amongst the 5 to 15 year old age groups, who especially need dental attention. As also the increasing awareness of dental health in the current years and also the growing popularity of cosmetic surgeries and teeth braces make sure that employment opportunities remain bright in this field.
The average salary of a dentist is between $116,000 and $161,000. Compared to such other jobs, the average pay is much less but one doesn't have to read too much into this as the average salary is increasing at a scorching pace.
Thus, in today's world where increasing attention is being paid to self-health, dentists have increasing importance and the job is becoming increasingly lucrative and attractive.
