-
Step 1: - Earn Your Bachelor's Degree
-
Step 2: - Pass the Dental Admission Test
-
Step 3: - Complete Dental School Training
-
Step 4: - Pass Licensure Requirements
-
Step 5: - Consider an Area of Specialization
Step 1: Earn Your Bachelor's Degrees
If you want to become a dental hygienist, there are specific programs that you can complete in college that will get you there. However, this is not a good option for those who want to become full dentists. A dentist needs a medical degree, so you'll want to start with a specialized pre-dental bachelor's or a degree focused on biology or chemistry. Although you aren't required to take a pre-dentistry bachelor’s degree, it will give you all the prerequisite courses and give you an edge when you apply for dental school. If you're not enrolling in a pre-dentistry major you should include biochemistry, anatomy, physical chemistry, and physiology in your coursework to meet dental school prerequisites. You should also maintain a GPA of at least 3.5 to assure you meet the standards for dental school admission.
Step 2: Pass the Dental Admission Test
You must take and pass the Dental Admission Test (DAT) to be accepted into a specialized school. The DAT will assess your scientific and academic knowledge and is the biggest factor in dental school admittance. Your college GPA, letters of recommendation, and interviews will complete your admission requirements. Each school may have its own minimum score requirements.
Step 3: Complete Dental School Training
A dentistry degree will take four years of full-time attendance. You may choose to earn either a Dental Medicine (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree, and the program must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (ADA). Your first two years will be academic and the last two years clinical, giving you supervised experience treating dental patients.
Step 4: Pass Licensure Requirements
Although state laws may vary, they all require you to pass the Integrated National Board Dental Exams. You should become familiar with your state requirements before entering dental school to make sure you complete the required courses and exams as defined by your state licensing board. Most states have reciprocal requirements, but not all - so, if you have your license in one state, you may need to meet other criteria if relocating to another state.
Step 5: Consider an Area of Specialization
Although many dentists find their career niche in a general practice, others choose to continue their education to focus on a specific area of practice. There are nine areas of specialization recognized by the ADA, including pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, and dental public health. You will become familiar with the specialties while in dental school and should make it part of your long-term goal if you decide a specialty is the best choice for your career. A specialty requires another two to four years of education and residency to become licensed in your field.
Dentist Career & Salary
Where Might You Work?
The majority of dentists, by necessity, work in dedicated dental offices so they have access to the tools, equipment, and accessories needed to do their job. Most dentists work in one of three options: under contract from another dentist, as a partner with one or more other dentists, or in their own private practice. Each situation has pros and cons:
- Under hire dentists have no overhead but have no decision-making input and a lower income level.
- A partnership allows a dentist to only be responsible for a percentage of the overhead and they have a say in the way the business is run. Their income is much higher, but they must have a good working relationship with their partners.
- An independent dentist will have income in direct proportion to their clientele and has full authority to make all decisions for the practice, but they will most likely work long hours and will have a high investment for equipment. A smaller percentage of dentists work for the government, in outpatient care clinics, and as teachers in dental schools.
Other Options
Although a private or partnership dental practice is the most common career path, dentists also find employment in other environments such as:
State and county public health programs
Typically located in high population areas, these programs offer dental treatment to primarily low-income families.
Consultation dentistry
Most dental insurance companies employ dentists to monitor claims for eligibility, malpractice, and fraud.
Academic dentistry
This involves teaching at an accredited dental school.
Administrator
There are many positions in national, state, and local dental associations throughout the country.
Military
For enlisted dentists, there are positions throughout the US and at military bases around the world. Civilian dentists are a minority on bases, however, you may also find roles with the military within VA hospitals, where civilian professionals are the norm.
US Public Health Service
Within the US Public Health Service, many dentists are employed across the country.
Private industry
Laboratory and clinical research positions for private corporations are not available as often as other positions. Most private industry positions involve laboratory research, but a few involve clinical research.
Government agencies and research institutes
These institutions compile dental research; they typically require a PhD in dentistry.
Salaries
| Occupation | Entry-Level | Mid-Career | Late-Career |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienist, AAS | $35,000 | $55,000 | $76,000 |
| Dental Hygienist, Cert. | $29,000 | $48,966 | $73,000 |
| Registered Dental Hygienist | $58,100 | $57,900 | $58,700 |
| Dental Office Manager | $43,200 | $48,600 | $51,100 |
| Dental Insurance Coordinator | $30,400 | $35,900 | $44,000 |
| Practice Administrator | $56,000 | $73,000 | $81,000 |
**Salary info provided by PayScale