SAS 15

• The majority of dentistry involves interacting with patients
• People skills are extremely important in this industry as their client base will either grow or shrink based on the customer service they give and their bedside manner
• A dental professional's job, no matter which position, is to ensure that patients are comfortable and confident that they are receiving excellent dental care
• A desire to help people and to improve the lives of others is also an essential part of working in dentistry
• Since dental offices are a place where many patients feel uncomfortable or even frightened, their ability to soothe fears can make or break a person's ability to seek treatment
• Dentistry involves very precise handiwork, whether you are cleaning in between a patient's teeth, filling a cavity, or trying to remove stubborn stains
• Dexterity and attention to detail when working to fix a patient's oral issues are crucial traits to have as a dental professional, in some ways similar to a sculptor or craftsman
• Dentists diagnose, prevent, and treat teeth and tissue problems
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  • Dentists remove decay and fill cavities
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  • Dentists examine x rays to diagnose dental issues
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  • Dentists perform corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum diseases
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  • Dentists make models and measurements for dentures to replace missing teeth
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  • Dentists administer anesthetics and write prescriptions for antibiotics and other medications
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  • Dentists use a variety of equipment, including x-ray machines, drills, and instruments such as mouth mirrors, probes, forceps, brushes, and scalpels
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  • Dentists wear masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect themselves and their patients from infectious diseases
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  • Today's dentist is involved not only with the treatment of the gums and teeth but also with patients' general health
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  • Dentists in private practice oversee a variety of administrative tasks, including bookkeeping and buying equipment and supplies
• • Dentists now use new composite materials to repair fractured or disfigured teeth
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  • Technological advances in dentistry affect the materials and techniques that dentists employ in their practice
• Orthodontics: Correction of teeth placement and facial structures
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Surgery of the mouth and jaws
• Pedodontics/Pediatric Dentistry: Dentistry for infants through adolescents
• Periodontics: Gum and supporting structure treatment
• Prosthodontics: Treatment with artificial teeth or dentures
• Endodontics: Root canal and related therapy
• Public Health Dentistry: Community dental health
• Oral Pathology: Investigating the cause, process, and effect of dental disease
• Most dental offices are open five days per week
• Some dentists have evening hours
• Dentists who have offices in retail stores or work for franchised dental outlets may work weekends as well
• Dentists usually work about 42 hours per week
• Some dentists spend more than 45 hours per week in the office
• Dentists often work fewer hours as they grow older
• A considerable number of dentists continue in part-time practice well beyond the usual retirement age
• Important health safeguards for dentists include:

  • Strict adherence to proper radiologic procedures
  • Compliance with recommended aseptic techniques, including the latest safety precautions
  • Use of appropriate protective devices such as masks, gloves, and safety glasses
• Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) is a four-year graduate degree program designed to prepare students for becoming a Registered Dentist in the Philippines
• The DMD program aims to develop skills and technical principles of different dental procedures as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral diseases
• The program also educates students on how to interpret diagnostic information and procedures and develop a comprehensive oral health plan, perform appropriate clinical procedures and provide emergency dental services
• Students who wish to pursue the DMD program must complete a two-year pre-dentistry course and have any medical-related Bachelor's degree program
• The last two years of the Doctor of Dental Medicine program is spent entirely in the dental internship program. The program involves assigning students to different hospitals or community health centers that offer dental services