Dentist Job Description
The job of a Dentist is to take care of patient’s teeth, gums and bones on the mouth, treat gum and mouth diseases, and perform dental procedures to save teeth from decaying, pull teeth that cannot be saved and use dental equipments and local or general anesthetic during procedures. Eight types of specializations for dentists exist and they practice as an endodontist, pedodontist (dentistry for teens and younger kids), orthodontist (braces), prosthodontist (artificial teeth), periodontist (gum problems), oral pathologist (mouth disease) or oral surgeon (mouth/jaw operations).
Education/Experience Requirements for the job of a Dentist: A successful candidate must possess a license to practice. Before obtaining a license, one must complete a two- or four-year bachelor’s degree, followed by a dentistry-related degree to become a doctor of dental medicine (DMD) or doctor of dental surgery (DDS). From here, dentists can obtain specialization and attend two or four more years of further training, or pass a state board examination, obtain a license and practice as a general dentist.
Skills of a Dentist include but are not limited to: Strong interpersonal and customer service orientation skills, excellent diagnostic and judgment-making skills, good manual dexterity, effective communication skills, good spatial judgment, superb visual memory and business sense, among others.
Specific work elements of the job as a Dentist varies largely depending on his/her specialization. In general, dentists administer anesthetics; examine gums, teeth and mouth to diagnose or treat problems; create treatment plans based on patient tests; operate dental equipments, appliances or other instruments; advise patients about dental care; write prescriptions for medications; analyze dental needs; create dental health programs and manage business and staff, among others.
