For three years, U.S. News and World Report has rated dentist the best job in America. People are sometimes intimidated by the cost and training the profession requires. This volume puts those fears to rest. It presents four career paths in dentistry, each with multiple and varied opportunities, some requiring education of only one year or less after high school. The book explains what it takes to get those jobs and guides readers to resources for easing financial concerns. It includes detailed information on where to get the necessary training and how to prepare for a great career in dentistry.
This innovative new book offers a user-friendly guide to securing a successful, varied, and fulfilling career in dentistry. Includes case studies of career trajectories across the full range of dental professions in the UK Advocates a portfolio approach to career development, illustrating the benefits of working in a matrix as opposed to climbing a ladder Showcases the opportunities inherent in specific areas of dentistry, what they can offer and what is required to successfully take advantage of them Written by one of the UK’s leading dental experts who has over 30 years in the profession, working on the local and national scale
Many people want a meaningful health care career, without the time and expense of eight years of training. This straightforward volume explores the field of allied dentistry, which can launch a rewarding career in two years or less. For dental assistant, dental hygienist, and dental laboratory technician, readers examine typical duties, personal characteristics needed for success, tools and technology used, and average salary. Required education, the job application process, and strategies for on-the-job success are clearly presented. Sidebars cover topics such as new trends in braces, using ultrasonics in dental hygiene, and actions that help students succeed, including job shadowing and mentoring.
MOST PEOPLE DO NOT LOOK FORWARD to visiting the dentist. Many avoid it as long as possible. Yet those same people will leave the dentist's office relieved, often with big smiles (assuming the Novocain has worn off). What most people do not realize is that the profession of dentistry has come a long way in recent years. New techniques and technologies such as lasers and air abrasion devices have changed the way dentists treat patients. A visit no longer has to be a source of dread. Dentistry involves more than just teeth alone. A dentist provides healthcare for the oral cavity, including soft tissue and bone, as well as the associated head and neck region. A typical dentist visit starts with an examination of the patient's teeth and mouth tissue. Based on what the dentist finds, a diagnosis is made and a treatment plan is proposed. Treatment may include removing tooth decay, filling cavities, repairing damaged teeth, extracting teeth, and/or replacing lost teeth. Most dentists are generalists who provide a wide array of services. On a given day, a general dentist will see people of all ages and backgrounds - sometimes entire families. There is never a dull moment because dentists never know who will be in the examining room, or what they will need. A patient could just be there for a checkup and cleaning. In that case, the dental hygienist on staff will take care of the cleaning, and the dental assistant will take a set of x-rays. The dentist will look at the x-rays in search of problems that need to be addressed right away or point out possible problems that need to be watched. The next patient could be suffering from a damaged tooth, broken during a fall. The dentist will need to determine if and how the tooth can be saved, and provide immediate treatment. There are also dentists who practice in certain specialized areas of dentistry. There are nine specialties recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA). Each requires additional training, but the payoff is a higher than average income for the licensed specialist. The most popular specialties are orthodontics (teeth straightening) and prostho¬dontics (artificial teeth). Dentists are highly educated professionals. It takes four years of undergraduate studies as a pre-dental student, followed by another four years in dental school. In order to get into dental school, the applicant must first take the Dental Acceptance Test (DAT) by their junior year in college. Getting into dental school is competitive so scoring well on the test is important. Many students take practice tests, sometimes as early as high school. Dental school is a rigorous mix of classroom instruction and hands-on clinical work. Upon graduation, dentists need to obtain a license to practice. Specific licensure requirements vary by state. Newly minted dentists can look forward to one of the best careers available today. They are well compensated with a median annual income of $150,000. Even those starting out can expect to earn at least $65,000 in their first year of practice. Those who take the time to become specialists can earn more than $180,000. Dentistry is also a stable career with more opportunities than the available dentists can fill. There is a growing demand for dentists that is not expected to slow down any time soon. Perhaps most important of all is the agreeable work-life balance dentists enjoy. Most dentists work in private practice and can decide for themselves how much they want to work. Dentistry is one of the few professional careers that actually offers the chance to work part time without losing traction. If you have an interest in healthcare, and like to work with your hands as well as your mind, dentistry is worth a look.
Every dental assistant faces challenges every day in his or her job. After coaching dental assistants around the country for more than a decade, Kevin Henry has compiled some of the biggest challenges he has heard and witnessed, as well as some ways to conquer them, in Battling and Beating the Demons of Dental Assisting. Whether you're a dental assisting student, new assistant, or assistant who has been in the industry for years, this book can help you not only overcome your daily struggles but open your eyes to new career possibilities. If you are serious about your career-and enjoy a spot of humor along the way-then this book is for you.
The purpose of this book is to introduce you to the wide open world of opportunities after for students who are still at school and for young adults who are in colleges or in training for further education and professional skills.
In her groundbreaking new book, Bethany Valachi has taken the problem of work-related pain in dentistry and distilled it into the basic 'whys¿ and 'hows¿ that are imperative to effective injury prevention and treatment. Solidly backed with over 300 scientific references, this comprehensive wellness guide raises the bar in the industry¿bridging the gap between occupational pain and dental ergonomics. Dentists, hygienists, assistants, faculty and students will find this book a valuable resource to:¿ Recognize pain syndromes unique to dentistry¿ Implement appropriate interventions for chronic back, neck, shoulder, hand or wrist pain¿ Select the proper equipment that fits you and your operatory¿ Correct damaging posture and body mechanics before they cause pain¿ Perform chairside stretches in your operatory to prevent microtrauma¿ Identify which exercises benefit dental professionals and which ones to avoidHealthcare professionals who treat dental professionals will find the book an invaluable resource to alleviate chronic pain syndromes.
Six dental schools have closed in the last decade and others are in jeopardy. Facing this uncertainty about the status of dental education and the continued tension between educators and practitioners, leaders in the profession have recognized the need for purpose and direction. This comprehensive volumeâ€"the first to cover the education, research, and patient care missions of dental schoolsâ€"offers specific recommendations on oral health assessment, access to dental care, dental school curricula, financing for education, research priorities, examinations and licensing, workforce planning, and other key areas. Well organized and accessible, the book: Recaps the evolution of dental practice and education. Reviews key indicators of oral health status, outlines oral health goals, and discusses implications for education. Addresses major curriculum concerns. Examines health services that dental schools provide to patients and communities. Looks at faculty and student involvement in research. Explores the relationship of dental education to the university, the dental profession, and society at large. Accreditation, the dental workforce, and other critical policy issues are highlighted as well. Of greatest interest to deans, faculty, administrators, and students at dental schools, as well as to academic health centers and universities, this book also will be informative for health policymakers, dental professionals, and dental researchers.
