By Mary Mc Keague - Chemistry Department, Loreto, Coleraine - Feb 2004

 Although we all dread visiting the dentist for our annual check-up, these men and women are essential in maintaining the upkeep of our little white friends attached to our gums, which we all take so for granted.

Dentistry is a branch of medicine specifically devoted to the treatment and maintenance of the mouth and its contents. Dentists treat people, not just teeth and mouths.  They interact with people of all ages, cultures and personalities.  They educate their patients, as well as the general public, on how to achieve oral health and prevent disease.  Dentists are artists as well as scientists.  To brighten one tooth or realign an entire jaw, dentists must have an artist's aesthetic sense to help their patients look their best. They improve patients' appearance by using a wide variety of cosmetic dental procedures.

Dentists are skilled, conscientious, civic-minded individuals. They often provide services to school health programs and to elderly, handicapped or poor citizens, demonstrating a selflessness that is a hallmark of professionalism.

Nature of work

In the surgery, dentists see patients with a variety of problems originating in the oral cavity.  Some patients may be suffering from severe toothache. Dentists will be able to relieve the pain instantly.  They remove decay, fill cavities, examine x-rays, treat children's teeth, straighten teeth, and repair fractured teeth.  They also perform corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum diseases. Dentists extract teeth and replace missing teeth with dentures or prosthesis.  They provide instruction on diet, brushing, flossing, use of fluorides, and other aspects of dental care, as well.

Dentists use a variety of equipment, including x-ray machines, drills, and instruments such as mouth mirrors, probes, forceps, brushes, and scalpels. They wear masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect themselves and their patients from infectious diseases.

 Please click here to see Dentistry Employment Statistics.

Median annual earnings of salaried dentists were £45-50,000 in 2000. Earnings vary according to number of years in practice, location, hours worked, and specialty.

Self-employed dentists in private practice tend to earn more than do salaried dentists. A relatively large proportion of dentists are self-employed.  Like other business owners, these dentists must provide their own health insurance, life insurance, and retirement benefits.

Employment of dentists is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through until 2010.  Although employment growth will provide some job opportunities, most jobs will result from the need to replace the large number of dentists projected to retire.  Job prospects should be good if the number of dental school graduates does not grow significantly, thus keeping the supply of newly qualified dentists near current levels.

In 2000, a survey was carried out of all dental graduates in the UK.

Qualifications and Skills

Dental school usually lasts 4 academic years. Studies begin with classroom instruction and laboratory work in basic sciences, including anatomy, microbiology, biochemistry, and physiology. Beginning courses in clinical sciences, including laboratory techniques, also are provided at this time. During the last 2 years, students treat patients, usually in dental clinics, under the supervision of licensed dentists.

Most dental schools award the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). The rest award an equivalent degree, Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD).

Dentistry requires diagnostic ability and manual skills.  Dentists should have good visual memory, excellent judgment of space and shape, a high degree of manual dexterity, and scientific ability. Good business sense, self-discipline, and communication skills are helpful for success in private practice. High school and college students who want to become dentists should take courses in biology, chemistry, physics, health, and mathematics.

Some dental school graduates work for established dentists as associates for a year or two in order to gain experience and save money to equip an office of their own. Most dental school graduates, however, purchase an established practice or open a new one immediately after graduation. Each year, about one-fourth to one-third of new graduates enroll in postgraduate training programs to prepare for a dental specialty.

Specialisation

You may also pursue an area of specialisation of interest to become a specialist.  The training in an area of specialisation usually takes up to four years, in order to be qualified as a consultant in the Ministry of Health.  The following are areas of sub-specialisation in dentistry:

·        Orthodontists straighten teeth by applying pressure to the teeth with braces or retainers.

·        The oral and maxillofacial surgeons, operate on the mouth and jaws.

·        Peadiatric dentists focus on dentistry for children.

·        Periodontists treat gums and bones supporting the teeth.

·        Prosthodontists are dentists who specialise in replacing missing teeth with permanent fixtures, such as crowns and bridges, or removable fixtures, such as dentures.

·        Endodontists are dentists who look into the fine canal of teeth to perform root canal therapy.

·        Public health dentists’ work includes promoting good dental health and preventing dental diseases within the community. They work mostly in the Ministry of Health or in one of the teaching dental schools in the country.

·        Oral pathologists are dentists who specialise in studying oral diseases.

·        Oral and maxillofacial radiologists diagnose diseases in the head and neck through the use of imaging technologies. There is currently only one oral and maxillofacial radiologist in the country.

·        Forensic dentist, as the name suggests, deals with forensic matter with regards to the teeth and face.

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