Careers Dentistry

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Careers Dentistry

• Information Provided By
• Georgia Statewide Area Health Education Center
  (AHEC)
• http//www.sowega-ahec.org/index
• PowerPoint Presentation By
• Juliane Monko Dr. Frank Flanders
• CTAE Resource Network, June 2009
• Based On PowerPoint Ideas From
• Penny Howard, RN, Healthcare Science Instructor

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AHEC

• There are six centers in the Georgia AHEC
  Network, and each serves a multi-county region. 
• The AHEC mission is to meet the health needs of
  Georgia by improving the supply, distribution and
  quality of healthcare providers.
• AHECs offer enrichment programs, camps, learning
  tools, student counseling, volunteer and
  mentoring activity coordination, and access to
  other educational resources.
• Contact your regional AHEC for more information. 

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Objectives

• Students will be able to describe health careers
  in the field of Dentistry.
• Students will be able to plan a healthcare career
  path in Dentistry.

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Careers in Dentistry
Dental Assistant Dental Hygienist Dentist
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Dental Assistant
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Dental Assistant

• Work side by side with dentists to increase
  efficiency in providing direct patient care. They
  greet patients, make them comfortable, and
  prepare them for examinations.
• Dental assistants show patients how to brush and
  floss their teeth.
• Denatal assistants take and develop dental
  x-rays, record patient histories and monitor
  vital signs.
• Also help in the day-to-day office management,
  such as scheduling, billing, filing insurance and
  ordering supplies.

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Dental Assistant

• Work Environment

• Salary

• Community health agencies
• Dental and dental hygiene schools
• General and specialty dental offices
• Health maintenance organizations
• Hospitals
• Military bases
• Prisons
• Private and state institutions
• Public health departments
• VA hospitals

• Average Starting Salary 27,040
• Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated
  figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at
  
  http//www.sowega-ahec.org/index

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Dental Assistant Academic Requirements

• A high school diploma or equivalent is
  recommended.  Most dental assistants enter the
  field through one- to two-year academic programs
  leading to certificates, diplomas, or associate
  degrees. On-the-job training is also available,
  but formal educational programs enable students
  to advance more quickly in salary and
  responsibility. Graduation from an ADA accredited
  program or at least two years of work experience
  is required for certification eligibility.

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Dental Hygienist
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Dental Hygienist

• Working with dentists, they provide dental care
  by examining teeth for cavities, removing tooth
  deposits, applying fluoride and sealants, and
  performing preventive services. 
• They instruct patients on methods to improve and
  maintain their oral health, including brushing,
  flossing, and eating the proper foods. 

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Dental Hygienist

• Dental hygienists record patient histories,
  update patient charts, and make impressions of
  teeth so that treatment options can be evaluated
  by a dentist.
• They also do oral cancer and blood pressure
  screenings and take x-rays.

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Dental Hygienist

• Work Environment

• Salary

• Community health agencies
• Dental and dental hygiene schools
• Dental companies
• Dental offices
• Health Maintenance Organizations
• Industry
• Public health departments

• Average Starting Salary 55,862
• Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated
  figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at
  
  http//www.sowega-ahec.org/index

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Dental HygienistAcademic Requirements

• Dental hygiene two-year programs lead to
  associate degrees while four-year programs lead
  to bachelor's   degrees. Some hygienists enter
  post-certificate dental hygiene programs to
  programs to earn bachelor's degrees in dental
  hygiene or related fields such as biology or
  health education.  A dental hygienist may also
  pursue a master's degree in  health education,
  adult education or public health.  

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Dentist
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Dentist

• Diagnoses and treats diseased and injured teeth,
  gums, and oral tissues.
• Dentists also educate people about oral health
  and prevention of dental problems.
• Dentists help improve the appearance of their
  patients through dental techniques such as braces
  and dentures.

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DentistAreas of Specialty

• Specialty status can be achieved by completing an
  ADA accredited residency and passing a board
  exam. 
• Dental Public
• Health Endodontics
• Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Periodontology
• Prosthodontics

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Dentist

• Work Environment

• Salary

• Complementary health centers
• Dental schools
• Equipment manufacturing companies
• Military
• Private practice
• Public health departments 

• Average Starting Salary 76,250
• Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated
  figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at
  
  http//www.sowega-ahec.org/index

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Dentist Academic Requirements

• Each dental school has its own admissions
  requirements. Research these criteria before
  planning any pre-professional curriculum. Dental
  students must apply for admission and  take a
  national admissions test before entering dental
  school. A bachelors degree or at least three
  years of college  is usually required to enter
  dental school.
• Most dental schools conduct a four-year program
  leading to a doctoral degree in dentistry. An
  additional one to three years are required to
  practice in a specialty area.

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Summary

• As a group, oral health care providers are
  responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of
  oral health problems. As the nature of oral
  health problems has come to be better understood,
  the emphasis in dentistry has changed from
  treatment to prevention. Educational requirements
  vary by career and career level. Students
  interested in these careers should use the
  information provided here as a basis for a career
  plan. The student should also research the career
  further to complete a career plan.
• Careers available in Dentistry include
• Dental Assistant
• Dental Hygienist
• Dentist