Occupations related to medicine have always been highly demanded by humanity. Indeed, at all times, people have suffered and still suffer from various ailments that can only be cured by true masters of their craft. Today, one of the most prestigious professions is a dentist and a dentist. As a rule, young people discover the desire to become a doctor in the future, even in childhood. Today we will try to find out what the profession of "dentist" is and what qualities you need to have in order to become a true professional in this field.
What is dentistry?
For most people, a dentist seems to be a specialist who deals exclusively with fillings, gum problems, etc. However, dentistry is a fairly broad section of science. She is studying the structure, functions and treatment of various diseases of both the oral cavity and the maxillofacial region bordering on it. In this regard, this specialty covers not only dental treatment, but also includes cosmetology, plastic surgery and many other areas of medicine.
Subdivisions of Dentistry
Since the dentist is a multifaceted profession, for the treatment of the corresponding spectrum of diseases, it is divided into several main, completely independent areas. Among them are the following:
- Therapeutic dentistry. Such specialists treat both carious and non-carious diseases of the teeth, as well as dental injuries and diseases of the oral mucosa.
- Surgical dentistry. Doctors in this profession specialize in inflammatory processes in the maxillofacial region, trigeminal diseases, tooth extraction and implant placement.
- Periodontology. This industry is associated with gum disease, the formation of tartar and dental plaque.
- Orthodontics. This area deals with the correction of occlusion.
- Children's dentist. As the name implies, doctors of this specialization are involved in the treatment of the smallest patients.
- Orthopedic dentistry. This direction is associated with dental prosthetics, as well as the installation of crowns.
What qualities do you need to have in order to become a dentist?
Today, quite a lot of young people enter medical institutes specifically at the dentistry department due to the fact that, in their opinion, after graduation, they will receive well-paid and promising work. A dentist, if he is, of course, a true master in his field, can really safely count on decent earnings, but it is a mistake to believe that it is easier to become a specialist in this profession than, for example, in surgery, oncology or gynecology. In addition, the future dentist should have the following qualities:
- Good manual skills, as well as delicacy in dealing with people. After all, the doctor should not only engage in dental treatment, but also communicate with his patients.
- Creativity. It is reckless to believe that the work of the dentist is routine and monotonous. As with any business, creativity is also important here. After all, sometimes a dentist can be compared with a sculptor who performs an aesthetic restoration of teeth, during which his responsibilities include matching the color and shape of the tooth in accordance with all the anatomical features of the patient.
- The desire for self-improvement. Since medicine today does not stand still, but is developing rapidly enough to keep abreast of all new products and technologies, the dentist must constantly improve his skills. It would be naive to believe that, having received a dentist’s diploma, you can forget about studying and engage exclusively in practice. Indeed, in order to be a real specialist, you must regularly attend seminars, conferences, study new developments related to drugs, equipment, etc.
Contraindications to the profession of dentist
Many do not even realize that some people cannot work as dentists because of their own health. Meanwhile, medical contraindications for this profession do exist. These include the following:
- Tendency to allergies. This is due to the fact that the dentist in the course of his work constantly encounters a variety of chemical compounds, which can cause a severe reaction in allergy sufferers.
- The presence of diseases of the spine. Few know that the profession of a dentist is classified as physically difficult. This is due to the need to be in a not-so-comfortable position for a long time during delicate work that requires maximum concentration.
How to become a dentist?
If you decide that the dentist is your calling, then feel free to go to the medical department for the appropriate department (surgery, therapy, etc.). If you already have a secondary medical education, then you can study in the evening department. Starting from the third year, students begin to practice in polyclinics and hospitals as nurses. In the fifth year, future dentists are already undergoing medical practice under the supervision of real doctors.
How much do dentists earn?
Many applicants, of course, are interested in the question of what salary they can expect after graduation. So, in our country, beginning specialists receive an average of 15 to 25 thousand rubles a month. A dentist with experience of more than two years can already count on a payment of 30-50 thousand. Well, a true professional in his field can earn several times more.