How to become a Dentist
Firstly, aspiring dentists will need a bachelor's degree and one with scientific content is good preparation for dental school. Then, students must pass the Dental Admission Test for a place at dental school to study for a doctorate in dentistry, dental medicine or dental surgery.
Dentists must hold a license and this process is overseen by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the American Dental Association alongside other regional boards. Each state is responsible for issuing its own licenses and most use regional boards to test dentists on their knowledge and skills via written examinations and observations of clinical practice on live patients.
Qualified dentists can decide to specialize by completing further training to earn a specialty state license through further study and work experience.
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Typical qualifications for a Dentist
Certificates and licenses
About Dental License
A license to work as a dentist awarded by a state’s board of dentistry upon completing a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry) degree and passing the National Board Dental Examinations and clinical examination.
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About Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification
A certification awarded by an organization or association such as the American Heart Association or the Red Cross, upon completing a three hour CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) class.
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About Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Certification
Certification awarded after completion of training in conjunction with CPR training by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association.
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About Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Certification
A certification assigned to a healthcare provider by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration permitting a provider to write prescriptions for controlled substances. A current medical license from the state in which the provider practices is required.
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Skills employers are looking for
About Dental office experience
Experience or skill doing administrative work in a dental office environment.
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About CAD
CAD (computer-aided design) software used for creating, modifying, analyzing, or optimizing digital renderings of a design.
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Dentist jobs in United States
Career progression for Dentist
Education levels for Dentists
| required level of education | percent of job openings |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 4.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 3.0% |
| Master's degree | 2.0% |
| High school diploma or GED | 1.0% |
| Associate's degree | 0.0% |
Expected salary by experience
| Years of experience | Annual salary in USD |
|---|---|
| 0 - 4 | $95,300 |
| 4 - 8 | $111,500 |
| 8 - 12 | $118,000 |
| 12 - 16 | $122,900 |
| 16 - 20 | $115,000 |
| 20 - 24 | $131,200 |
Common questions about career advices for a Dentist
What personal qualities do I need to be a good dentist?
For many people, going to the dentist can be stressful and anxiety-inducing, so having a good rapport with patients and being able to reassure and relax them is a vital skill. Dentists are also responsible for offering advice on ongoing oral care, and patients must trust them and be confident in their abilities, so strong communication skills are incredibly important.
What career progression do dentists have?
Once you're a qualified dentist, there are a variety of careers available. These include community dental care which involves looking after patients who are not able to attend dental facilities who would be unable to access treatment otherwise. Some dentists choose to specialize in hospital dental care which can include maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and pediatric dentistry.
