Dental
Marina Avery
February 20, 2015
Period 2

Dentistry is the job concerned with the prevention and treatment of supporting tissues, oral disease, and diseases of the teeth. There are many different types of dentists. Each different specialist has their own requirements and duties to fulfill for their specific field, as well as oral surgery, prosthodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, public health dentistry, general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, and oral pathology. Dentists examine teeth, provide medical treatment and advise patients on proper oral care. They also remove decay and fill cavities, take and examine x-rays, and write prescriptions. Periodontics specializes in problems associated with gums and the bones that support the gums. Endodontics performs root canal therapy on teeth in which the pulp has decayed and must be removed. Orthodontics correct unsightly crooked teeth or poorly aligned teeth. Pediatric dentists have special training in children’s oral health problems, such as tooth decay, early orthodontic care, dental injuries, and they receive training on the behavior of children. Dentists wear protective clothing and devices, such as gloves, masks and glasses, to prevent the spread of infections. Becoming a dentist begins with completion of a science-related undergraduate degree program. Spring dentists then attend dental school to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). Graduates of dental programs are required to earn state licensure to practice in the profession. Although, to get into dental school you have to complete certain courses like: biology, chemistry, physics, math, organic chemistry, human anatomy, biochemistry, human physiology, intro to psychology, English composition, and other non-science courses with an average GPA of 3.5 and with a science GPA of 3.8. Before entering dental school, you should prepare and take the Dental Admission Test a year before entering dental school. This test measures a person’s potential for academic success in dental school. After they pass their written and clinical exams to become a dentist, they will have earned their credentials of a DMD or DAT. A dentist should be a well-rounded individual by having a variety of skills. A dental education usually requires a minimum of two years of college and four years of dental school. If you decide to specialize in one of the other eight areas, then there will be another minimum of two years of additional schooling. you have to graduate from a four-year college to get your undergraduate degree, a bachelor degree that tends to be a science major. Then, you have to go to dental school for four more years to get a doctorate degree. Most dentists work four or five days a week and most full-time dentists work about forty hours a week, but some work more than others do. Some work weekends to meet their patients' needs. Sometimes dentists may