Fun Facts

Do you like helping people? Would you like to be your own boss someday and make a good living? Then you might enjoy a career in the dental field. You’ll work with all kinds of people and help them enjoy good dental health. You can be a dentist, a dental hygienist, dental assistant or a dental laboratory technician.

Find out more about what it takes to become a dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant or dental lab technician.

Dentists provide important services to all types of people and are often able to set their own hours.


• Diagnose and treat diseases of the mouth, including teeth, gums and jaws

• Repair or restore teeth that have been lost or damaged by decay (cavities), accidents or diseases

• Make smiles bright and beautiful
• Take science and math classes in high school and college

• Take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) before going to dental school

• Attend dental school for 3 - 4 years

• Their own offices

• Offices with other dentists

• Hospitals, clinics, dental schools and the military

• Companies that administer dental benefits programs (such as Delta Dental)

Dental hygienists treat patients, teach them good dental habits and often have a flexible work schedule.


• Clean patients' teeth by removing plaque and calculus and polishing and flossing teeth

• Check teeth and gums to ensure they are healthy

• Take x-rays of teeth

• Teach patients how to brush and floss properly
• Take science and math classes in high school and college

• Complete a 2-year training program

• Pass an exam to become licensed in order to treat patients

• Dental offices, community health clinics, hospitals, schools

• Companies that administer dental benefits programs (such as Delta Dental)

Dental assistants work with all kinds of people and keep the office running smoothly.


• Assist the dentist with patient treatment, including taking x-rays and sterilizing instruments

• Work directly with patients on some procedures, such as taking impressions of teeth so that crowns can be made

• Schedule appointments, order supplies, handle bookkeeping and other office duties
• Complete a 1-2 year dental assisting program
• Dental schools, clinics, hospitals and offices

• Companies that administer dental benefits programs (such as Delta Dental)

Dental laboratory technicians use their artistic talents and work with modern technology to make many different kinds of replacements for teeth.

• Make tooth replacements, including dentures, bridges, crowns and veneers and orthodontic appliances (such as braces)

• Work with a variety of materials such as wax, plastic, metal and porcelain

• Complete a 1-2 year education and training program
• Labs, factories, dental offices, schools and hospitals

 

 
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