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Doctor of Dentistry
Dentistry is the health profession that maintains, improves and corrects the health of the teeth and the supporting oral structure.
Dentists treat diseases and abnormalities of the mouth. They examine teeth, fill cavities, take X-rays, straighten teeth, extract teeth and substitute artificial dentures. They also treat gum diseases and perform corrective surgery of the gums and supporting bones.
Over the years, the dentist's primary role was to treat these diseases and disorders as they occurred. The trend in dentistry today is to focus on the prevention of oral health problems.
Like doctors, dentists can be generalists or specialize in one of several areas.
| A list of specialty areas includes: |
| Endodontics | Diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting teeth roots (root canal therapy) |
| Oral Pathology | The area of dentistry that involves testing to diagnose diseases of the mouth |
| Oral Surgery | Specialization of mouth and jaw surgery such as removal of tumors, complex extractions and other oral abnormalities |
| Orthodontics | Diagnosis and correction of irregular teeth by means of braces |
| Pedodontics | Specialization in children's dentistry |
| Periodontics | Treatment of the supporting structures of the teeth such as gums, tissues and bones |
| Prosthodontics | The making of artificial teeth and dentures |
| Public Health Dentistry | Community dental health |
Job Outlook
Employment opportunities look good for dentists, particularly in smaller towns. Many factors, including changes in population size, increased public knowledge of dental health, rising incomes and the availability of dental insurance may account for the increase in employment opportunities.
Educational Requirements
The educational requirements for dentists range from six to eight years of training. Most dental schools, which are four-year training programs, require three to four years undergraduate study. Dentists who plan to specialize will have an additional two to three years of training. Dental training programs include two years of theory and two years of clinical training.
High school courses should include biology, chemistry, physics, reading skills and English composition.
While some dental schools accept an undergraduate baccalaureate degree in liberal arts, students should check with the dental school they plan to attend before choosing undergraduate courses.
Educational Programs - Illinois
Other Programs - Midwest
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