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Pathway: Diagnostic & Therapeutic Services
Job: Dentist
Job Description
Dentists diagnose, prevent and treat tissue and teeth problems. They remove decay, fill cavities, examine x-rays, straighten teeth and repair fractured teeth. They administer anesthetics and write prescriptions. Many oversee a variety of administrative tasks.
Necessary Education
Usually a Bachelor’s Degree and four years of dental school (D.D.S. – Doctor of Dental Surgery or D.M.D. – Doctor of Dental Medicine)
Helpful High School Courses
Advanced Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Health, Physics
Working Conditions
- Usually work four or five days a week
- Some evenings or weekends may be required to meet patient’s needs
- Work in clean, well lighted office
- May work in clinics or educational labs
Salary Range
- 2003, Delaware average annual salary,
$34,290
- 2003, Delaware average hourly wage,
$64.56
Career Ladder Information
- Post-graduate training need to prepare for a specialty such as an orthodontist (straighten teeth) or a periodontist (treating gums and bones supporting teeth)
- Must earn a medical doctor degree to practice oral surgery
- Need to continue lifelong education through seminars and college courses
- Need to keep current with new techniques and health issues
Personal Qualities and Interests
You:
- Have good manual skills
- Have excellent judgment of space and shape
- Show a high degree of scientific ability
- Have a good visual memory
- Have business sense and self-discipline
- Have good communication skills
Did you know?
Most dentists are “solo practitioners”. They own their own business and work alone with a small staff.
Additional Information
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