Dentists and Dental Assistants

Most dentists work in privately owned practices. They may own an office space with a partner, or group of dentists. The dentist also employs different types of assistants to help with the work and patients. Dental assistants and dental hygienists help the dentist with the patients by cleaning teeth, or preparing a room for a procedure.

Dentists, DMD, DDS

Dentists undergo years of training to become DMDs or DDSs, which are virtually the same thing. They start out in undergraduate studies in the natural sciences, like a doctor does. They then go on to post-graduate training at a dental school. Here they learn about the different structures of the teeth, mouth, and jaw. Upon completion of dental school, they take a board examination and can become a dentist. Just like a doctor, a dentist can also specialize in a certain area of the dental field. Most work on a salary and many can be self-employed. They have decent hours and days of work, usually off on holidays and weekends. They have the ability to take off days for personal vacations, and other things. The salary of a dentist will vary with specialty, and how much the he or she charges for procedures. Their average salary is about $140,000.

Orthodontists and Oral Surgeons

Although the mouth is small, there are a lot of different components to good oral health. The gums, the teeth, the root of the tooth, and the bones of the mouth are some of the different areas. Just one dentist cannot handle everything. The general dentist usually has a selection of other local area dentists that are specially trained. This way, when a larger problem occurs they can send his patient to the specialist.

• Orthodontists are trained in treating the placement of teeth. They put on braces, or appliances, to move the teeth into a better position.
• Endodontists are specialists who deal with the inner part of the tooth, or pulp. They repair damage that can be very painful.
• Periodontists treat the gums. They can diagnose and treat gum diseases and gum recession.
• Cosmetic dentists are trained to enhance the look of the teeth. They do this by whitening and other procedures.
• Oral Surgeons may be dentists or medical doctors. They preform surgeries on the teeth, mouth, and jaw bone, such as the removal of wisdom teeth.
• Pediatric dentists deal only with children.

Dental Assistants and Hygienists

The dentist office also employs dental assistants. Dental assistants help the dentist during procedures, like a putting in a filling. They hand the him or her tools and keep the patient’s mouth open and dry. Dental hygienists are the people who clean and floss your teeth during a routine check up. They can also warn the dentist of any problems happening with the teeth. Both of these positions require some type of training. Most technical schools and community colleges offer a two year program to be a dental assistant or dental hygienist. They both are usually paid on an hourly basis, and make above minimum wage. Starting salaries can range between $15 and $20 dollars an hour for both.