Dentistry – A unique career

Dentistry can be a rewarding career that combines science and technology with helping people enhance and maintain their oral health. It is a career that not only requires book smarts, but one that demands manual dexterity, excellent communication and people skills, patience, and a keen business sense.

Before making a decision to become a Dentist, find out about the profession, speak or visit your Dentist and if possible volunteer at a dentist’s office. For admission to Dental School in University of the West Indies or England the minimum requirements are three A’level Science passes or a BSc (Upper Second Class or higher). {{more}}If applying to the United States of America, you are advised to do a Dental Admission Test (DAT) which measures your general academic ability, comprehension of scientific information and perceptual ability.

Most dental surgery programs are 6 years including a year of internship. On graduating you will be awarded a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD).

Once qualified you have the option of working in private practice, in a hospital or polyclinic, teaching at a Dental School or going on to specialise. Whatever your choice, you’ll be entering into a field that can be rewarding as it gives you the opportunity to be creative and interact with different people on a daily basis. But the challenges can be overwhelming. People fear the dentist more than anything else in the world and often visit when they are experiencing pain. Their preconceived notions will require your patience and empathy. If you want a career that is challenging, and never boring, one that tests every creative bone in you, one that pushes you to continue even though the challenges are numerous, then Dentistry is definitely for you. It is forever evolving; new technology and procedures are constantly being developed always making this field new and exciting.