Dental care is a significant part of the overall health care system. It is also a highly respected and valued profession that offers many opportunities for professional advancement. Advances in dental research – including genetic engineering and the discovery of links between oral disease and other medical conditions – continue to open up new fields for practice, creating exciting new challenges and career options.

Dentists perform oral examinations and diagnose patients’ conditions. They then develop and implement individualized treatment plans designed to address each patient’s unique needs and goals. Using restorative procedures, dentists repair and replace damaged, missing or eroded teeth to improve their patients’ appearance, function, and comfort. They also perform minor oral surgery, such as tooth extractions and gum surgery, to address complex dental issues and improve a patient’s oral health outcomes.

Choosing the Right Dentist: What to Look for in a Dental Professional

Dentistry is different from other medical specialties in that it is more focused on preventative care and less concerned with treating illness. This focus on prevention and the wide range of choices available for a patient to restore or improve their oral health may contribute to dentistry’s high demand in the current health care environment.

To become a dentist, students must complete three or more years of undergraduate studies and four or more years of dental school. Dentists graduate with either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. Both degrees require rigorous academic preparation, including extensive science and math courses.…