"Dentist"

A dentist's primary duties and responsibilities include examining the dental and oral health of patients of all ages and administering treatment accordingly. A general dentist's role is similar to that of a primary care physician in that they care for the overall dental needs of patients.

A dentist provides oral health services to adults and children. Some dentists choose to study a sub specialty, such as orthodontics. Most dentists obtain an undergraduate degree before completing a four-year dental program and earning a doctoral degree in dental medicine or dental surgery.

You should enroll in a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association. Dental colleges offer either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). You must submit Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores with your application.

The first two years are devoted to lab and class instruction. Courses may include oral pathology, dental diagnosis, and dental treatment techniques. In the last two years, students typically complete a dental rotation internship, which is usually conducted in the dental clinics and allow students to treat patients under supervision.

The median annual Dentist salary is $147,361, as of September 27, 2017, with a range usually between $131,586-$172,340, however this can vary widely depending on a variety of factors.