Dentist

Duties and Responsibilities

Dentist do anything that has to deal with the oral cavity. They fill, repair, take out, and clean teeth. A dentist will also whiten teeth if desired by the patient. Dentists run x-rays to detect any abnormalities with the jaw, gums, teeth and any other area that might affect the oral cavity. When done with a patient the dentist will educate the patient on proper oral hygiene. Some patients require dentures or retainers and dentist could provide the patient with personalized ones. A dentist could and will prescribe treatments like pain killers. Dentist could choose to be a general dentist, or an orthodontist that also treats teeth in a different way.

Salary: Dentist will make  $158,310 a year.  

Education: To become a dentist you will need to have a bachelors in a science field, like biology, to enter dental school. To become a dentist you will need either a Doctor of dental medicine, doctor of dental surgery, or a doctor of medical dentistry. You will also need a licence in the states you decide to work in. You will spend 2-4 years in a residency, and 2-5 years in advanced training.  

Demand for this profession: This profession will increase by 18% in 2024.

Reflection: I would not like to be a dentist because I don’t like to look at other’s teeth. I also feel that it is a lot of time I will spend in school and I already feel overwhelmed in high school.