Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists clean and polish patients' teeth, using a variety of specialized tools and equipment. They are professionals who treat gum disease. They examine the teeth and gums and make notes about anything they notice that they want the dentist to look at more closely. Usually, it is the hygienist who is responsible for taking x-rays, too.

Hygienists are licensed by the state in which they work, and they must earn an associate or bachelor's degree in order to work in private practice, and if they want to work in a school or do scientific research, they'll need a bachelor's or master's degree.

According to the United States Department of Labor, ". . .employment of dental hygienists is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2012, in response to increasing demand for dental care. . ."

Dental Assistant
Dental assistants perform a variety of jobs in a dental office. They assist the dentist at chairside, sterilize equipment, and educate patients about how to take care of their mouths after having dental procedures. Some dental assistants help with preparing materials, and with taking x-rays. They may make temporary crowns, or help out with office tasks such as scheduling appointments, billing, and record keeping.

Dental assistants are licensed by the state, and are required to have completed a training program at an accredited school. The programs include classroom and laboratory work, and usually take 1 to 2 years to complete.

The United States Department of Labor says, "Job prospects for dental assistants should be excellent. Employment is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2012. In fact, dental assistants is expected to be one of the fastest growing occupations through the year 2012."

Dental Lab Technician
Dental laboratory technicians craft crowns, bridges, dentures, veneers, and other prosthetics for dentists. They work in a lab. When they receive an order from a dentist, it will include a plaster model and specifications and instructions. They then build and shape a wax model of the item requested by the dentist, and then cast it in metal. Often this metal will have porcelain applied to it in layers so it looks and feels like a real tooth. Lab technicians have five areas of specialty: crowns and bridges, complete dentures, partial dentures, ceramics, and orthodontic appliances.

A dental lab technician needs a high amount of natural artistic ability. Most of the craft is learned on the job, and it can take several years to become fully skilled and trained. There are few accredited dental laboratory technician programs. Most of them take two years, but a few take four years and lead to a bachelor's degree in dental technology. Graduates of a 2-year program need hands-on training and experienced in order to become proficient in their craft.

"Job opportunities for dental laboratory technicians should be favorable, despite expected slower-than-average growth in the occupation through the year 2012," according to the United States Labor Department. This forecast is based on improved dental health due to fluoridation of drinking water, which has reduced the number of bridges and crowns people need. However, there is increasing interest in cosmetic dentistry, so the field should continue to grow.

Dentist
Dentists are mouth doctors. They take care of the teeth and gums of their patients, and they watch for signs of trouble that might require another medical specialist. They perform corrective surgery, fix cavities and broken teeth, and replace missing teeth. They provide education about dental health care, hygiene, and nutrition, and they can write prescriptions for antibiotics and other medications.

It takes a lot of years in school to become a dentist! After four years in undergraduate school, it takes another four years in dental school. If a dentist wants to pursue a specialty, such as orthodontics, it will take at least two more years. They must also pass the National Board Dental Examinations, a group of rigorous tests, in order to become licensed.

The employment outlook for dentists is good. There will always be a need for dentists, and new dentist take the place of retiring dentists.

We are always happy to hear about our young patients' dreams for the future! If you are thinking about a career in dentistry or have any questions we might be able to answer, please email us at smiles@dakotadental.com.