DENTISTRY By Joe Schmoe INTRODUCTION Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients’ teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth. HISTORY OF DENTISTRY 700 AD – Dental Fillings first used in China An ancient Chinese medical text includes an early mention of silver fillings. 1400 AD – Toothache? Go to the barber During this era, barbers dealt with far more than just hair and were practically medical professionals. Extracting teeth was a normal and accepted part of their job description. 1723 – The Father of Modern Dentistry French surgeon Pierre Fauchard publishes the first guide to dental care ever written. The book discussed oral anatomy, restoring teeth and creating dentures EDUCATION PLANNING High School- courses like biology, chemistry, and math. College- Need to complete bachelor’s degree in a science, such as biology. Dental School- 3-4 years after undergraduate degree Training- Another 2-3 years after graduating from dental school JOB DESCRIPTION AND DUTIES • Prevention: • Promoting oral health and disease prevention. • Monitoring growth & development of the teeth and jaws. • Diagnosis: • Interpreting x-rays and diagnostic tests. • Diagnosing oral diseases. • Treatment: • Creating treatment plans to restore oral health • Ensuring the safe administration of anesthetics. • Performing surgical procedures on the teeth, bone and soft tissues of the oral cavity. EARNINGS The median annual wage for dentists was $159,200 in May 2019. The highest 10 percent earned more than $208,000. Specialties like orthodontists, prosthodontists, and oral surgeons can earn more CAREER ADVANCEMENT There are many ways to advance in a career as a dentist. For example: Orthodontist (gives patients braces) Prosthodontist (gives patients prosthetics- false teeth, etc) Oral and Maxilliofacial surgeons (perform surgery on mouth and jaw area) RELATED FIELDS If I decide not to be a regular dentist, I have many options related to dentistry. For example, I could be a: Dental Laboratory Techs- create dentures and prosthetics Dental Hygienists- clean teeth and provide preventative care Pediatric dentist- focus on children’s dental health CONCLUSION I believe that dentistry is the right career for me for many reasons: I care about dental health and have never had a cavity I like working with patients and educating people about dental hygiene I think dentists can keep normal business hours and can make good money WORKS CITED Sample: Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” website.com. Publisher, Publication Date. <link> “A Fun Timeline of Early Dental History.” dentistrybydery.com. Dentistry by Dery, 8 Jan. 2020. <https://www.dentistrybydery.com/ blog/a-fun-timeline-of-early-dental-history/> “Dentists.” bls.gov. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020. <https:// www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dentists.htm#tab-4> “Dentists, General.” careeronestop.org. U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 2020. <https:// www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/Occupations/occupationprofile.aspx?keyword=Dentists, %20General&onetcode=29102100&location=UNITED%20STATES> McKay, Dawn Rosenberg. “Career Options in the Field of Dentistry.” thebalancecareers.com. Dotdash Publishing, 20 Dec. 2018. <https:// www.thebalancecareers.com/careers-in-dentistry-525890>
