Career

Dental Education in India

Are you looking for a field that offers variety, prestige, financial reward and personal satisfaction? Then a career in dentistry could be for you.

Dentistry offers new and exciting challenges through a lifetime of learning. Each day in the dental office presents new patients with unique wants and needs. Dentists work with a variety of people spanning different ages, personalities and races.

A Message to Parents

If your son or daughter demonstrates scientific ability and interest, works well with people and enjoys helping others, he or she may derive lifelong satisfaction from a career in dentistry.

As a parent whose son or daughter is considering becoming a dentist, you undoubtedly have many questions. What employment opportunities does a dental career offer? Is dental school a good financial investment?

A dental education is a sound financial investment that will more than pay for itself in terms of financial benefits and other rewards.

Those who choose dentistry face a considerable challenge. The demands before, during and after dental school are many, but the rewards will be even greater. Dentistry offers your son or daughter prestige, variety, flexibility and financial reward.

Getting a Dental Education

Now is the time to start planning your predental education.

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.

The Dental Specialties

Endodontist

is a dentist that strictly deals with the nerve of the tooth. They may perform simple to difficult root canal treatments as well as surgical root procedures. They may perform an apicoectomy (surgically removing the tip of the root) or a root amputation (removing a root on a multi-rooted tooth), also. They have usually 2 or more years of continuing education after graduating dental school, and most limit their practice to only endodontics.

Oral Surgeon

is a dentist that performs many aspects of surgery in and about the head area. They can perform simple to extremely difficult (Completely-Bony Impacted Third Molars (Wisdom teeth)) extractions. They also perform biopsies and removal of tumors in the head and neck region. Most place implants in the jaw for future restorations and do complex jaw realignment surgeries. They have usually 4 or more years of continuing education after graduating dental school, and most limit their practice to only oral surgery.

Orthodontist

is a dentist that straightens teeth. They analyze a mouth and surrounding bone structures and determine where the teeth should be. If there is enough room they will manipulate the teeth and bone through the use of bands, wires, elastics, headgears and other appliances to achieve a harmonius balance between facial muscles and teeth. If there is not enough room teeth may have to be extracted to achieve the desired results. They treat children as well as adults, so don't be afraid you are too old to have braces. They have usually 2 or more years of continuing education after graduating dental school, and most limit their practice to only orthodontics.

Pedodontist

is a pediatric dentist. They focus their dentistry to treating the younger patients. They will usually treat children from as little as 1 or 2 to early adulthood. They can perform all aspects of dentistry on this crowd. They can detect early on if there are problems with decayed, missing, crowded or malpositioned teeth and correct them as well as spot signs of child abuse. They have usually 2 or more years of continuing education after graduating dental school, and most limit their practice to only pedodontics.

Periodontist

is a dentist that deals with the supporting structures of the teeth. They diagnosis and treat gingivitis (Inflammation of the gum tissue) as well as periodontitis (Gum Disease). They may perform simple cleanings to complicated bone surgeries. They perform bone grafting where indicated and do soft tissue grafts to treat gum recession. Most also place implants in the jaw for future restoration. They have usually 3 or more years of continuing education after graduating dental school, and most limit their practice to only periodontics.

Prosthodontist

is a dentist that deals with simple to complicated full mouth restorations. They may be crowns, fixed bridges, dentures, implant cases, or mixed implant and fixed bridge cases. They sometimes encompass the majority of the patients remaining teeth. They also perform needed restorative procedures, such as obturators, after removal of cancerous portions of the mouth.They have usually 3 or more years of continuing education after graduating dental school, and most limit their practice to only prosthodontics.