Close to 100% of adults worldwide have dental cavities, but this number can easily be reduced if we have more cosmetic dentists in the industry. Cosmetic dentistry is a form of dentistry that is aimed at creating a better appearance for your teeth and gums. A cosmetic dental clinic can do much more than just whiten teeth, they can improve your smile in other ways. This article will provide information regarding how to become a cosmetic dentist and what your job will entail.
What do cosmetic dentists do? Cosmetic dentists are responsible for improving the aesthetics of your teeth and helping you regain self-confidence. Many top cosmetic dentists will perform dental implants, which have a 98% success rate, others will perform simple laser whitening procedures. But first, you will need to be accepted into dental school, which require you to already have a bachelor’s degree and have passed an entrance exam. Every state in the U.S. requires a cosmetic dentist to have a license to practice.
Job Description: With 178 million Americans missing at least one tooth, you will be a very busy person fixing people’s smiles once you get your license. Not only will you perform state-of-the-art procedures to fix people’s oral health problems, you will able be able to counsel your patients and talk to them about preventative measures as well as discuss what the best cosmetic procedure is for them.
How much do cosmetic dentists make? The U.S. dental implant market in the U.S. is expected to reach $5 billion by 2018 — and some of this money you will be pocketing once you have passed dental school! According to the BLS, the median salary for the best cosmetic dentist is $154,990. Keep in mind that the location, experience, specialty, and reputation of the cosmetic dental clinic can all affect your pay.
Academic and Experience Requirements: First, cosmetic dentists need to complete dental school, which is a four year program, in order to earn their Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.). You will be required to have at least two years of undergraduate school under your belt before being allowed into a dental school.
You will need to go through entrance interviews, provide recommendations, and pass the Dental Admissions Test. During the four year program, you will also be required to take chemistry and/or biology classes, as well as log plenty of laboratory hours for microbiology, physiology, and anatomy classes. The best cosmetic dentist will then go on to do residence work or shadow a mentor.
Licensing: Just like regular family dentists, a cosmetic dentist must become licensed. As mentioned earlier, every state requires a license to practice your trade. You will acquire this license after you have passed the National Board Dental Examination, which will test your knowledge of dental sciences and procedures.
Once you have jumped over all of these little hurdles, you will be on your way to practicing cosmetic dental work!
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