PERSPECTIVE IN DENTISTRY

• Who are involved in training a Dentist


  • Dentistry professors and clinical instructors/specialists
  • Members of allied professions such as health professionals, x-ray and laboratory technicians
  • Government agencies such as CHED, PRC
  • Private educational institutions
  • Patients
  • The public
• Goals of the Dental Profession

  • To continually increase production
  • To continually grow profitability
  • To continually generate more referrals
  • To maintain a low-stress environment
  • To seek high professional satisfaction and an enjoyable practice environment
  • To gain financial independence
• Threefold values of Dental Professionals

  • Service to mankind
  • Social security
  • Prestige to self
• Ideal Characteristics of a Dentist


  • Dedicated to service
  • Honest and sincere
  • Diligent
  • Resourceful
  • Charitable
• Factors for a successful dental treatment

  • The capability and skill of the dentist to work on a given case
  • Patient cooperation with the dentist regarding medication and operation
  • The need for the patient to have faith and confidence
• Interprofessional referrals


  • Physicians
  • Pharmacists
  • Medical technologists
  • Nurses
  • Other dentists (for specific case referrals)
• Professional Boundary Line


  • The dentist must obtain a good image in the community
  • Good public relation (relations to your staff, patients, and other dentists)
• Definition of Dentistry: It is defined as the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or adjacent and associated structures, and their impact on the human body, within the scope of his/her experience and education
• Scope of Dentistry


  • Diagnosing oro-facial conditions and providing appropriate information to patients of diagnosis, treatment or management options and their consequences
  • Removing tooth tissue and/or placing materials for either the temporary or permanent restoration or replacement of tooth structure, or the rehabilitation of the dentition
  • Performing procedures on the orofacial complex, teeth, and the hard and soft tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth
  • Extraction of teeth
  • Administering local anesthesia and/or sedative drugs
  • Prescribing medicines appropriate to the scope of practice
  • Prescribing special tests throughout the dental treatment
  • Using ionizing radiation, for diagnostic purposes, throughout the practice of dentistry
  • Performing procedures on any person to prepare for or carry out construction, fitting, adjustment, repair, or renewal of artificial dentures, or restorative or corrective dental appliances
• The Basic Sciences and Dentistry: A dentist must be knowledgeable in basic medical/biological sciences. To be able to understand pathological conditions, the dentist must be well-educated with normal anatomy and physiology
• Main Dental Subjects and Branches of Dentistry

  • Operative/Restorative Dentistry
  • Prosthodontics
  • Orthodontics
  • Dental/Oral Surgery
  • Pedodontics/Pediatric Dentistry
  • Periodontics
  • Dental Radiology/Roentgenology
  • Endodontics
• Career Opportunities of a Dentist

  • Post-graduate courses
  • Private practice
  • Group practice
  • Military dentists (dental service militaria)
  • Government dentists
  • Public health/community dentists
  • School dentists
  • Company dentists/industry dentists