Repairing smiles: From fixing smiles to detecting oral cancer, dentistry teaches it all

NT Features

A career in dentistry is personally fulfilling. To serve the present and future oral health needs of their patients, dentists enjoy the challenge of a lifetime of learning. Tomorrow’s dentists will be at the cutting edge of modern technology, making the practice of dentistry even more exciting and rewarding than it is today. They are often the first health care professionals to recognise and identify a wide variety of diseases, ranging from hypertension to oral cancer. They diagnose and treat problems affecting the teeth, gingival tissue, tongue, lips and jaws. These oral diseases often reveal other health issues that may require a follow-up with the patient’s primary physician.

In the modern era of health care, dentists utilise new and advanced technology such as digital radiography, cone beam computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosing patients.

Dentists provide services that improve patients’ appearance and self-confidence through a wide variety of cosmetic dental procedures. These services can make patients feel better about their smiles. To repair, restore and maintain the dentition (teeth), gingival (gums) and oral tissues that have been lost or damaged by accidents or diseases, dentists perform trauma surgery, dental implants, tissue grafts and laser surgery.

Here’s how you as a student in India can go about dentistry as a career. Students can complete their 12th grade in Biology. Later, they can complete their Bachelor in Dental Surgery. Further, if they want to take up higher studies, one can proceed with a Master of Dental Surgery. One can also take up a Ph.D. after their master’s. There is also another way students can do dentistry.

After completing their 12th and bachelor’s in dental surgery, one can proceed with a post-BDS Diploma in dentistry. After graduation, the student is qualified to practice as a doctor, but there is a need to continuously upgrade skills with continued education. The options before you are to start your own private practice but for this, you need both capital and experience while another option is to work as an associate with a senior dentist. You can work in a hospital. When associated with a complete dental hospital or the dental fraternity of a medical hospital the experience gained, however, depends on the kind and the inflow of the patients. The armed forces are another job option. The opportunity with the armed forces is attractive and provides you to serve the country with commitment and dedication. The service can be short-lived or for a lifetime, depending upon your performance and personal choice.

The work of a dentist extends beyond the dental chair. Patient education is as important as the actual dental procedures as dentists teach good oral habits to promote good health. Dentists educate the general public on the importance of oral health and disease prevention. They interact with people of all ages, cultures and personalities. The dentist’s typical day is diverse and interesting. A good dentist also possesses creative talent. Dentists are artists and in order to brighten one tooth or realign an entire jaw, dentists must have the artistic sense to envision the aesthetic end result to help their patients look their best.Dentistry allows you to be your own boss. Dentists can balance their personal and professional lives to meet their individual needs and desires. Dentistry provides opportunities in a variety of private and public settings including private practice, teaching, research, public health and administration.