Dental Program

Whenever people think of the dental industry, the first thing that comes to mind is the dentist. While a dentist position is the most well known position in the dental industry, it is by no means the only position in the dental industry. What many people don't realize is how wide of a variety of positions are available in the dental industry. Not only are there many kinds of positions available but a career in the dental industry are known to be a steady career position. No matter who you are, your mouth at some point will need to be looked at by someone in the dental industry. Below are some facts you should know about the dental industry.

Dental Program Success Factors

Successful dental professionals typically display strong interpersonal skills, integrity, motivation and empathy. They also possess manual dexterity and have acquired valid clinical experiences such as shadowing and observation.

Dental Program Curriculum

A typical dental program curriculum teaches the foundational basic science and preclinical laboratory courses in the first 2 years, while clinical experiences in comprehensive patient care begin early in the first year. Typical dental program courses include general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, biology, introductory psychology, biochemistry, histology, physiology, human or comparative anatomy, social sciences, microbiology, communication, business, composition, technical writing, fine arts, philosophy, engineering, and classics.

Dental Program Degrees

The dental industry requires that you get further education beyond a high school degree in order to get a job in the industry. There are several degrees available for those looking to get into the dental industry: an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, and a master's degree. For those that pursue any career in the dental industry, separate certification examinations may be required, depending on the state and its requirements. For example, someone looking to become a dental assistant would need both an associate's degree and state certification.

Dental Jobs

While many people that enter the dental industry are interested in becoming a dentist, many do not feel like being pigeon holed into one career. For someone with a degree in the dental industry, there are many other positions available. For example, some of the jobs that are out there include: dental assistant, dental receptionist, x-ray technician, dental hygiene educator, an insurance company consultant, a pediatric dentist, a periodontist or even an orthodontist. While some might think a dental assistant and a dental receptionist is the same thing, they are wrong. A dental assistant goes in before the dentist and does the preliminary work to ready the patient for the dentist. A dental receptionist works at the front desk and takes care of all the paperwork, including the insurance paperwork. For those who don't want to work in a dentist's office, there are even jobs requiring dental knowledge outside of the dental field. These jobs can be found in the plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery field, although other education outside of the dental area would be required.