| It's not exactly an easy road to become a dentist. | | | | to learn, by actually doing. You'll be putting all your |
| Most people assume that something as simple as | | | | classroom knowledge to the test here, so you will |
| dealing with teeth isn't that difficult and they tend to | | | | need to have done very well in the previous two |
| demean the profession. Dentists have to study hard | | | | years of studies. |
| to get to the point where they can run their own | | | | Becoming a Real Dentist |
| practice, though and it's not as simple as many think. | | | | After you've studied your complete eight years (four |
| College Years | | | | in college to get your bachelor's degree and four in |
| It's a good idea to take plenty of science courses | | | | the dental school) you will need to get your license. A |
| while in college, preparing for dentistry. Most students | | | | license allows you to practice dentistry legally. In |
| who plan to become dentists go ahead and major in | | | | order to obtain this license, you will be required to |
| biology or chemistry to ensure they have enough | | | | pass both written and practical exams to ensure that |
| classes to get into a dental school. | | | | you are ready to start doing dental work on your |
| This section of your education will take four years | | | | own. |
| and you'll come out the other end with a bachelor's | | | | With your license in hand, it's time to start working. |
| degree, which can be used for many things, not the | | | | Most new dentists continue their studies by working |
| least of which, moving on to dental school. | | | | with established dental professionals until such time as |
| Getting Into Dental School | | | | they feel confident enough on their own to open a |
| In order to go from science major to getting your | | | | practice. Others will go straight from school to |
| doctorate in dental studies, you'll need to start by | | | | opening their own practice. Which option is best for |
| taking the DAT, or Dental Admissions Test. This is a | | | | you? That is up to you to decide. |
| way to check and ensure that you have the | | | | Becoming a dentist requires a lot of dedication. It's |
| knowledge and studies required to continue on with | | | | not something you can do after taking a short |
| your quest to become a dentist. The score from this | | | | course. There are eight long years of studying, six of |
| test is what is used, along with your grades and | | | | those being in a classroom, two being practical |
| recommendations, to apply to universities. | | | | applications, and that is far too much for some |
| Once you have been accepted into a dental school, | | | | people. If you aren't certain that this is the path you |
| you are looking at another 4 years of hard studying. | | | | want to take, it might be a good idea to think it over |
| For the first couple of years, you'll be strictly in a | | | | carefully before committing such a large chunk of |
| classroom environment, studying, taking in lectures | | | | your life to study. |
| and doing tests. Most of the courses required will be | | | | Dentistry can be a rewarding profession, if you are |
| scientific in nature and you'll also be doing some clinical | | | | ready to tackle the studies that are required to get |
| studies. | | | | you to the point where you will have your own |
| The second half of the university involves real life | | | | license and be ready to practice. With some |
| applications. You'll actually be treating patients while | | | | dedication and hard work, you could be there in eight |
| under supervision. This is where the practical | | | | years. |
| experience comes in and it's one of the best ways | | | | |