How can you become a dentist?

Answer 1

A dentist treats and prevents diseases of the teeth, gums and mouth. Eight years of college and dental school studies are usually necessary for a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.). All dentists have to pass additional state tests to obtain their required licenses. Steps: 1. Take high school Biology, chemistry, physics, health and mathematics courses. Maintain a high grade point average. 2. Ask your guidance counselor for information on colleges that have a two-year pre-dental program that emphasizes the sciences. Most pre-dental students complete a bachelor's degree. 3. Send for college catalogs and applications. Apply well before the deadline date. 4. Commit yourself to receiving high grades in college, especially in your science courses. 5. Contact the American Dental Association for a list of four-year dental schools accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Make certain you'll meet the admission requirements. (See the ADA Web site at ada.org.) 6. Take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Your test scores, overall grade point average, science average and recommendations will all weigh heavily in the decision to admit you to a dental school. 7. Understand that the first two years in dental school will consist of classroom and lab courses. The final two years are spent in clinics under the supervision of licensed dentists. 8. Obtain your license by passing additional written and practical state examinations after you've graduated from dental school. Make certain you know what your state's licensing requirements are well before you get to this point. 9. Check on your state's requirements for specialty licenses in the dental field. An additional two to five years of study is required. Tips: Make certain you possess manual dexterity and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Expect to work 7 to 10 hours a day, not including emergencies. Warnings: Expect to pay high premiums for liability insurance and to have large bills for equipment and skilled personnel if you have your own practice.

Answer 2

A dentist treats and prevents diseases of the teeth, gums and mouth. Eight years of college and dental school studies are usually necessary for a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.). All dentists have to pass additional state tests to obtain their required licenses. you are anoying. omg Steps: 1. Take high school biology, chemistry, physics, health and mathematics courses. Maintain a high grade point average. 2. Ask your guidance counselor for information on colleges that have a two-year pre-dental program that emphasizes the sciences. Most pre-dental students complete a bachelor's degree. 3. Send for college catalogs and applications. Apply well before the deadline date. 4. Commit yourself to receiving high grades in college, especially in your science courses. 5. Contact the American Dental Association for a list of four-year dental schools accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Make certain you'll meet the admission requirements. (See the ADA Web site at ada.org.) 6. Take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Your test scores, overall grade point average, science average and recommendations will all weigh heavily in the decision to admit you to a dental school. 7. Understand that the first two years in dental school will consist of classroom and lab courses. The final two years are spent in clinics under the supervision of licensed dentists. 8. Obtain your license by passing additional written and practical state examinations after you've graduated from dental school. Make certain you know what your state's licensing requirements are well before you get to this point. 9. Check on your state's requirements for specialty licenses in the dental field. An additional two to five years of study is required. Tips: Make certain you possess manual dexterity and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Expect to work 7 to 10 hours a day, not including emergencies. Warnings: Expect to pay high premiums for liability insurance and to have large bills for equipment and skilled personnel if you have your own practice.

Answer 3

In order to graduate from an accredited hygiene school, you must first be accepted. This is often the hard part. It tends to be VERY competative to get accepted to dental hygiene school since it is a good paying job. Especially on the west coast. I think it is a little easier to get accepted in certain parts of the south, and the Midwest. Basically any state that has a lot of dental hygiene programs (like more than 10) it will probably be easier to get accepted.

You generally need to complete between 1 and 2 years of pre-requisites before you can apply. Generally your grades in these courses is the main criteria they use for selecting students....so get good grades. On the west coast you will need almost all As in these classes. Common pre-reqs are chemistry, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, nutrition, public speaking, writing, algebra or pre-calculus, and several humanities and social sciences.

Once accepted the program lasts at least 2 years, some are 3 years. In school you will take

a full load of academic classes while simultaneously maintaining a clinic schedule 2-3 days a week. You will treat live, paying patients on designated clinic days (with supervision, of course). You usually begin working on each other the first term and then the second term you start working on the public. It is a very busy and challenging 2 years, but well worth it. You'll have to be organized, dedicated and good at science to make it through school. Working a part-time job is possible (I did it) but most students focus 100% on school because it is intense.

You will need to pass the national dental hygiene board examination prior to graduation. If you pass that, you will be eligible to sit for your regional or state's clinical board examination where you are graded on a live patient. If local anesthesia (injections) are permitted in your state you will probably need to pass a separate test for that.

To become licensed in your state you will also need to pass a state exam regarding the laws and scope of practice and ethics for that state. Then you pay a fee of about $100 to $200 a year to maintain your license. Most states require that you do a certain minimum hours of continuing education each licensure cycle.

You will probably need to pass a background check and possibly a drug screen.

Once you've jumped through all the hoops, it is a very rewarding and well paid career. But I warn you it is harder than you think and you do a lot more than just "clean teeth" and it's a lot bloodier and grosser than you could ever imagine. The repetative physical work it is especially hard on your back, neck and wrists, so if you already have issues in those areas of your body, then dental hygiene wouldn't be a good fit for you. If you are outgoing, compassionate and a general "nurturer" or "helper" this may be a great career for you, but warning: MONOTONY is a common complaint!!!

With all that said, I'm glad I went this route. I currently make $36 an hour with great benefits and great hours. I work in a fun office and I love my patients and co-workers. My body hurts most days after work though.

Answer 4

It depends on the state you are in and the Dental Hygiene school you you attend. There is a shortage of dental hygienists so they have 2 and 4 year programs. However, before you check out a 2 year school, remember that there are prerequisits to getting into any program - even the 2 year programs. Usually you have to have your regular English and History classes...along with other science classes. By the time you are accepted, you have a year of college behind you. In other words, the 2 year degrees end up taking 3 years. You will have more options if you elect to go to a 4 year school and get your bachelors degree instead.

Answer 5

AnswerIt may take you more than two years to complete an associate's degree due to the prerequisites for this major. It would also help to be or become attentive to detail, you must be good with your hands and also be interested in the health of all sorts of people. Finally, you'll need to be comfortable working in people's mouths.

Answer 6

The minimum requirements to be a dental hygienist are an associate's degree and passing a state licensing exam. Some people go on to receive a bachelor's degree or higher in order to obtain jobs teaching or doing research.

Answer 7

To become a dental hygienist, you do indeed, need both a degree from an accredited dental hygiene school and a state license. For more information, I would suggest checking out this site, http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos097.htm .

Answer 8

The training needed for a dental hygienist job is very long and hard and it most definitely can not be achieved i under a two year span if you had no type of medical or scientific background.

Answer 9

a tooth brush SILLY! =]]