Dentistry stands as one of the most popular and recognized professions today; in fact, dentistry ranks among the top 10 most trusted and ethical professions in the United States today, and this branch of medicine is a popular one for those looking to enter a career where they can help others. Higher education and apprenticeship for this job is common, and attending dental college is an essential step to becoming a dentist or a dental assistant, both of which are in-demand, well-regarded (and good paying) jobs today. Someone attending dental college or a recent graduate may get real-world experience with live patient clinics (probably under supervision) and with this hands-on dental training, a student or a recent gaduate can cover a lot of ground to becoming a full fledged dentist or a dental assistant. What are these jobs like, and how can customers and patients take better care of their teeth in everyday life?
Dental College and Work
Attending a dental college and graduating can set someone on the route to a well-paying and well respected career in dentistry. This is a fairly common job, too. The Occupational Employment Statistics program conducted a survey and found that there are close to 7,030 dental assistants employed in the United States as of 2017 in the state of Arizona, and the same program found that the man annual wage for those assistants figured to $39,580. This can be a fulfilling and enriching career to pursue, and 89% of DANB Certificants say that they have high levels of job satisfaction. Similarly, nearly 95% of DANB CDA Certificants say that they view dental assisting not just as a job, but as a career. This career can quickly become lucrative, seeing how survey results show 70% of dental assistants who who hold DANB’s CDA certifications received raises in their current positions. Practical dental assistant training can put a dental college student or recent graduate right in front of the sort of work they’ll be doing, and they may learn many things that cannot be simply be learned in a textbook. Clearly, then, dental college can quickly put someone on the path of a good paying and satisfying career. What can dentists and their assistants do for patients, and what should patients do to maintain their teeth?
Tooth Health
A dentist can carry out a number of procedures for a patient, ranging from a simple and routine cleaning job all the way to more involved procedures such as filling in cavities, extracting teeth (often to prevent the spread of tooth decay) and putting in braces or retainers for patients with teeth spacing or alignment issues. Sometimes, anesthesia will be needed to numb the mouth for an operation that would otherwise be very painful for the patient, and equipment such as drills may be involved. Patients can also have crowns fixed or replaced or get fillings or even false teeth if need be.
What can a person do to maintain their dental health and avoid a costly and difficult operation at the dentist’s office? Often, simply brushing one’s teeth with a good toothbrush and quality toothpaste will do most of the work, cleaning off all the teeth after a meal to remove bacteria and plaque, not to mention the sugars that these organisms feed on. Floss can clear out food particles between the teeth where toothbrush bristles cannot reach, and mouthwash can clear out any remaining bacteria as well as freshen the breath.
People are also urged to prevent accidents with their teeth. Using tobacco products, such as cigarettes or chewing tobacco, can quickly damage teeth and gums and rapidly lead to tooth loss or even mouth cancer. It is also advised to avoid chewing on hard items such as ice cubes, which can crack the enamel, and that can be expensive to fix at the dentist’s office. Those playing sports are urged to use mouth guards so that trauma does not crack or knock out the teeth in one’s mouth in case of collision or accidents. Finally, a patient may want to use tooth whitening products or services to enhance the appearance of the teeth, and this may positively impact their social prowess, such as at a mixer party or a job interview or when looking for a promotion.
