Most dentists practicing today made their career decision in late high school or early college. It is never too soon or too late to begin some serious thinking about your career in dentistry.

To get started, you will need to know what dentistry offers. This section discusses dentistry's many challenges and rewards.

Variety — Dentistry is a rapidly changing, expanding profession, involving:

• Detection of diseases: Dentists are often the first health care professionals to recognize and identify a wide variety of diseases, ranging from hypertension to cancer.
  
  
• Diagnosis: Dentists diagnose and treat problems affecting the teeth, gingival tissue, tongue, lips and jaws. To accomplish this, they utilize new technology such as computers and magnetic resonance imaging.
  
  
• Esthetic improvement: Dentists improve patients' appearance by using a wide variety of cosmetic dental procedures. These services can make patients feel better about their smiles.
  
  
• Surgical restoration: To repair, restore and maintain the teeth, gums and oral tissues that have been lost or damaged by accidents or diseases, dentists perform trauma surgery, implants, tissue grafts and laser surgery.
  
  
• Public education/prevention: Dentists teach good habits for good health. They educate their patients, as well as the general public, on how to achieve oral health and prevent disease.

Dentists treat people, not just teeth and mouths. They interact with people of all ages, cultures and personalities. The dentist's typical day is diverse and interesting.

Creativity — Dentists are artists as well as scientists. To brighten one tooth or realign an entire jaw, dentists must have an artist's esthetic sense to help their patients look their best.

Prestige — Dentists provide an essential health care service. They are highly respected within the community.

Dentists are skilled, conscientious, civic-minded individuals who work with community leaders, educators, other health professionals and government officials. They often volunteer services to school health programs and to elderly, handicapped or poor citizens, demonstrating a selflessness that is a hallmark of professionalism.

Flexibility — Dentistry allows you to be your own boss. Dentists can balance their personal and professional lives to meet their individual needs and desires.

Dentistry provides opportunities in a variety of private and public settings including private practice, teaching, research, public health and administration.

Security — The average income of a dentist is in the highest 8% of U.S. family income. The demand for dental care will continue to grow. The increasing number of older adults are keeping their teeth longer, are more aware of the importance of regular dental care and require more dental services. Geriatric dental care and the greatly increased demand for newer services, such as cosmetic dentistry, also will contribute to this growth.

Personal Satisfaction — A career in dentistry is personally fulfilling. Dentists perform an important public service to help people maintain their health and appearance. To serve the present and future oral health needs of their patients, dentists enjoy the challenge of a lifetime of learning. Tomorrow's dentists will be at the cutting edge of high technology, making the practice of dentistry even more exciting and rewarding than it is today.

How to Prepare for Dental School

Contact several dental schools and inquire about their specific requirements. Talk with admissions officers.

If you are in high school, enroll in college preparatory classes in chemistry, biology and algebra. Get a broad exposure to science and math. A well-rounded liberal arts education is desirable.

If you are in college, build a solid foundation in the natural sciences, especially general biology and inorganic and organic chemistry. Psychology and business courses can also provide background important to your success as a dentist. You don't have to major in science, but you will need to complete the predental science courses.

Talk with a counselor or advisor who is knowledgeable about the health professions. Visit that counselor or advisor regularly.

Talk to your dentist. Ask to spend a day or two in his or her office. The local dental society may be able to direct you to other sources of information.

Prepare for and take the Dental Admission Test (DAT) a year before you anticipate entering dental school. The DAT is one of several measures of a person's potential for academic success in dental school. It is usually administered to students who have completed at least one year of college-level courses in biology and chemistry.

Apply for admission at least a year in advance. Most college students apply for dental school during their junior year.

Most dental schools require personal interviews with candidates to assess attributes such as desire to help people, ability to get along well with others, self-confidence, ability to meet challenges and capacity to work independently. The personal interview also allows you to ask questions about the school and its services.

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