Dental School

One of the most lucrative and underappreciated fields of medicine is dentistry, the science of caring for and preserving the teeth. Dentists and their assistants care for patients, fix problems related to the teeth and jaw, and treat serious ailments. Dentists are in demand in the current health care system, and that demand should be unaffected by health care reform. Dental school is the first stop for those who wish to embark on a career in dentistry.

Most dental schools give out a single degree to dentists, a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) degree. Some schools give out degrees in dental assisting. Most degrees in dental assisting are associate's degrees and give a comprehensive course load of background knowledge and technical skills. Like medical schools, DMD programs cover subjects like anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, everything related to human growth and development. As students progress through the program, courses become more specific to dentistry. Future dentists learn the elements of preventative dentistry, how to get their patients to care for their own teeth. They study periodontics, the science of the jaw and its ailments. Then they begin to study the technical procedures used in modern dentistry, like filling cavities, pulling teeth, and dental surgery. Specialties are available in orthodontics and surgery. Pediatric dentistry also requires special technical skill.

The job market for dental school graduates is deep and broad. Dentists work in their own practice, at hospitals, and in group and non-profit clinics. They perform reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. The compensation for dental school graduates is above average.

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