Orthodontist

Duties and responsibilities: Orthodontics, a specialty within the dental profession, involves straightening teeth and correcting bites. As an orthodontist, you are responsible for locating problems with the positioning of patient’s teeth and with their oral development.

Salary: $186,000

Education: To become an orthodontist, you need to graduate from dental school with a doctor of dental medicine. But first you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree. You will also need to complete residency. In order to become licensed you need to complete an exam.

Do you think you would like to be one?

No because this job doesn’t interest me.

Oral care professional

Duties and Responsibilities:

Dental hygienist provides preventive treatment for oral health problems. They also educate patients and promote dental health. They may be employed in health departments, nursing homes, hospitals, dental school, or school districts, but usually they work in private dental offices and clinics. Dental hygienist:·               Screen patients for dentist.

·               Take and develop radiographs.

·               Remove calculus and plaque from teeth.

·               Apply preventive treatments to teeth.

·              Counsel patients on oral health procedures.

·               Perform dental office management duties.

Average Salary: $22,000- $35,000

Educational Requirements:

Dental hygienists must have a high school diploma or GED certificate before participating in dental hygiene education programs. Dental hygienists usually earn an Associate’s degree at a community college or private school. To practice, they must also earn a license by passing the Dental Hygiene National Board examination. Some hygienists earn Bachelors or Masters Degrees if they want to teach, do research, or broaden their scope into public health issues.

Would you like to be one?

No because this job doesn’t interest me.

Periodontist

Duties and responsibilities: A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, and in the placement of dental implants. Periodontists are also experts in the treatment of oral inflammation. Periodontists receive extensive training in these areas, including three additional years of education beyond dental school. They are familiar with the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, and are also trained in performing cosmetic periodontal procedures.

Salary: $270,000 per year

Education: These specialists are very well trained. Not only do they have the same bachelors and dental school degrees as your dentist, they have three additional years of school. Most earn a Ph.D. In order to consider becoming a periodontist, you want to begin your foundation in high school. Be sure to take as many high level science and math courses as you possibly can. Maintain a high GPA and do well on the SAT.

Do you think you would like to be one?

No because this job doesn’t interest me.

Dental Laboratory Technician

Duties and Responsibilities:

Dental laboratory technicians specialize in different areas of dental and orthodontic work. Their job usually includes making and repairing dentures, crowns, and braces. They work in dental schools, commercial dental laboratories, hospitals, dental clinics, and for manufacturers of dental prostheses. Dental laboratory technicians:

· Repair dental linings.

· Choose and mount replacement teeth.

· Construct denture frames.

· Identify needed prostheses repair.

· Make and fix braces.

· Cast plaster dental molds.

· Clean and polish prostheses.

Average Salary: $22,000- $33,000

Educational Requirements:

Dental laboratory technicians must have a high school diploma or GED certificate before starting dental laboratory training.

Dental laboratory technicians must attend a community college, vocational school, or dental school to learn their skills. Programs are usually two years in length.

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Dental Hygienist

Duties and Responsibilities:

Dental hygienists provide preventive treatment for oral health problems. They also educate patients and promote dental health.  They may be employed in health departments, nursing homes, hospitals, dental school, or school districts, but usually they work in private dental offices and clinics.  Dental hygienists:

·       Screen patients for dentists.

·       Take and develop radiographs.

·       Remove calculus and plaque from teeth.

·       Apply preventive treatments to teeth.

·       Counsel patients on oral health and teach them appropriate dental health procedures.

·       Perform dental office management duties.
 Average Salary:  $22,000 - $35,000

Educational Requirements:

Dental hygienists must have a high school diploma or GED certificate before participating in dental hygiene education programs.

Dental hygienists usually earn an Associate’s degree at a community college or private school. To practice, they must also be licensed by the passing Dental Hygiene National Board examination.

Some hygienists earn bachelors or masters degrees if they want to teach, do research, or broaden their scope into public health issues.

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Dental Assistant

Duties and Responsibilities:

Dental Assistants help dentist provide dental care. They often work in teams with dental hygienists and laboratory technicians. They may work in health clinics, dental schools, nursing homes, and the military, but usually they work for dentists in private practice. Dental assistant duties include:

• Helping patients feel comfortable during treatment.

• Taking and developing dental x-rays.

• Sterilizing and preparing dental instruments and equipment

• Instructing patients about dental health care to include brushing and flossing

• Performing office management tasks.

Average Salary: $14,000- $25,000

Educational Requirements:

Dental assistants must have a high school diploma or GED certificate.

They must receive additional training at a community college, vocational school, or dental school to learn their skills. Length of programs varies between six months and one year. To become certified, dental assistants must pass an examination from the Dental Assisting National Board.

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