Dentist

Free newspaper Oakland, created by Oaklanders, delivered to your inbox once every week. You’re supporting our newsroom! Thanks for supporting Oaklandside and joining the Community! Donations from Oaklandside transcend newsrooms. We amplify community voice and share the power of real data to explore the system rather than the symptom. Our newsletters are amazing. Get Oakland News sent straight to your mailbox. In Berkeley, the renowned medical doctor Thomas Arnold is breaking ground.

Contents

1. Do you have it you?
2. Commitment as a Student & Job Commitment
3. Basic Qualification
4. Attitude Aptitude & Skills
5. Future Prospects
6. Other Professions

Do you have in you?

Dentists are concerned with all health problems concerning the oral cavity. Dentistry is a professional field which includes dental care and correction. You will be sought after not only for a tooth ache but also to make the smile brighter. A visit to the dentist has changed more from need based to look based by using multiple cosmetic dental procedures. So its not all about a treatment but also knowledge and importance given to oral health that includes prevention of diseases related to the oral cavity. If you are a kind of person who can make a 2 year to a 80 year old comfortable and confident about a procedure then this is the profession which can give a smile across all age groups.

Commitment as a Student & Job Commitment

As a student you will be committed for 4 years during BDS programme. If you want to specialise in a particular field then 2 years of dedication will be required for a masters programme. As a dentist you will have to keep abreast of the latest technology and trends to keep up with the rapid upgradations in the field. You will be required to stand on your feet for long hours but will enjoy the flexibility of working hours unlike other medical professions. You should be committed to build trust so that people come back to you as this is not just the tooth that you are fixing but a long term relationship that you are building.

Basic Qualification

You would need to take Science subjects with physics, chemistry, physics and biology at 10+2 level and score a minimum of 50% to be able to sit for competitive medical/dental entrance exams for admission to Bachelors of Dental Science (BDS) programme. The BDS degree programme is of 4 years duration, followed by one year of rotating internship to be able to handle cases independently. To get into a specialised field a Master in Dental Science (MDS) is required which is of two year duration.

Attitude Aptitude & Skills

As a dentist today you need to be an artist along with a doctor as you are not just holding a tool to fix the tooth but also a magic wand to improve the looks. When you are in a profession of making the smile brighter for every one that visits you, the main requirement will be to have a welcoming and a comforting smile on your face. You should be able to work hard as the profession requires besides craftsmanship, skill and theoretical knowledge, long hours of standing. As a dentist you require patience, stamina, concentration, dexterity, accuracy as well as excellent communication skills as you will mostly be dealing with an educated lot who will have lot of questions for you to answer. You should be willing to upgrade your knowledge to keep pace with the ever changing techniques and have a keen eye for detail,along with thorough understanding of your subject.

Future Prospects

You can opt for one of the many specialization that Dentistry has to offer like Orthodontics which deals with straightening and aligning teeth and jaws, Periodontics which deals in the care and treatment of gums; Endodontics which deals with root canal, tooth fillings and cosmetic surgery; Prosthodontics deal with making of artificial teeth; Pediatric Dentistry deals with treating teeth related problems in children and Oral Pathology which deals with the diagnosis of diseases that affect the mouth. You will have an option of working part time for self or a hospital at the same time. You can also take up teaching in dental colleges as well after few years of experience.