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A dentist’s job is to diagnose and treat the conditions of your mouth, teeth and gums. They perform all kinds of procedures on your mouth such as extractions, root canals, simple cleanings and more to prevent infections and encourage oral hygiene. Caring for people’s mouths, teeth and gums is so important that it takes a lot of training to become a professional dentist. If you want to become a dentist, you will be required to undergo four years of undergraduate study and four years of dental school to earn your degree in dental surgery. Once you have done all that hard work in school and proven yourself worthy of becoming a dentist, you will be able to work in professional offices like TMJ Dentistry. The first step to becoming a professional dentist is to earn your bachelor’s degree. A degree in the sciences, such as chemistry or biology, is great preparation for dental school. A few colleges and universities will offer undergraduate dental classes within a science major, which will meet most dental school course prerequisites. All aspiring dentists will need to complete classes in physics, biology, chemistry, biochemistry and statistics. To be able to work in a professional dentist office like TMJ Dentistry, you will need to complete the Dental Admission Test (DAT), which is administered by the American Dental Association (ADA). Dental schools will use your DAT scores, your GPA and any letters of recommendation to determine whether you are suitable dentist material. The DAT will usually take about four hours to complete. It covers four different criteria, including quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, natural sciences and perceptual ability. You will need to earn your DDS at a dental school that has been certified by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. During the first two years of your time at a dental school, you will be focusing on your coursework and studies, which consist of classes such as dental anatomy, radiology, dental anesthesiology, occlusion, prosthodontics and periodontics. You will have the opportunity to practice your dental techniques and skills by participating in lab sessions. The last two years spent on a dental school will be focused on clinical practice, diagnosis and treatment of patients under the supervision of your dental instructors. After four years of study and practice, you will be required to pass the National Board Dental Examination (DBDE) to obtain a state license. This 2-part exam is administered by the American Dental Association. The first part consists of basic health topics such as biochemistry, occlusion, physiology and anatomy. The second part of the test will question your knowledge of specific dental areas such as pediatric dentistry, oral diagnosis, pharmacology and operative dentistry. Most states will have an additional practical or written test for you to take in order to obtain your state license. Working in a professional dentist office like TMJ Dentistry is both satisfying and rewarding, as you will be working with fellow dentistry professionals as well as educated nurses and assistants. You will become part of a working environment that gains its income through helping people become healthier and happier. The majority of dentists are general practitioners who work in private practices and are able to hire a small number of associates or assistants. There is a high demand for dental treatment by the aging population, and preventative care is a growing trend among insurance companies. Now is the perfect opportunity for you to obtain a great education and become part of a working class that earns its good name from the patients they have cared for.
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