Dentistry is a branch of medicine dedicated to maintaining oral health. A dentist is a doctor whose profile is aimed at examining, diagnosing, preventing oral conditions, and treating their diseases. This is a dynamic medical profession with the opportunity to become a highly specialized physician and a respected member of society. Physician assistants work as assistants.
Who is a dentist?
A dentist is first and foremost a doctor, a specialist in the field of problems of the oral cavity and maxillofacial area.
He checks the condition of teeth and treats patients, advises on issues of implantation, growth, changing teeth, and gives recommendations on further oral care.
How does one usually build a career?
A career can be built in two directions:
- Practical. A dental intern develops into a full-time doctor. Then, gaining experience and demonstrating your development, you can grow to the head of the department and deputy head physician. The peak of the career is the position of chief physician.
- Theoretical. This is a scientific activity. To do this, upon graduation, you should apply to graduate school. Then you should defend your candidate's and doctoral dissertations. This will help you open a private school, which will be the peak of your career.
Characteristics of the profession - what it does, functions and responsibilities
Let's see what specializations dentists have:
- The therapist is the doctor to whom you turn first. The general practitioner analyzes the general condition of the teeth. Finds problem areas, treats caries, removes nerves, puts fillings and restorations, and prepares teeth for prosthetics.
- The surgeon performs operations in the oral cavity: removes teeth, restores the jaw after injuries, prepares the oral cavity for implantation, prosthetics, orthodontic and orthopedic treatment. Deals with problems related to inflammatory processes, cysts and tumors.
- The orthodontist corrects malocclusion - a situation where the jaws do not close evenly, but with a deviation to the right or left, corrects the curvature of the teeth - increased crowding, in which the teeth have “not enough space” and they run into each other or vice versa. The result of his work carries an important aesthetic point for the patient.
- Orthopedist – comes to the rescue when teeth are missing. Restores them with the help of dentures, removable or permanent, and fully reproduces the important chewing function. If it was possible to save a small part of the tooth, then it uses restoration technology using a crown. This doctor works in tandem with a dental technician - a specialist in the manufacture of dentures and prosthetic elements for a specific case.
- Hygienist is a relatively new field. Monitors the cleanliness of the oral cavity, carries out preventive and hygienic procedures to maintain oral health. Removes plaque, tartar, polishes enamel. Provides consultations regarding the prevention of dental diseases.
- Implantologist – specializes in restoring lost teeth using implants. Innovative technology allows you to install tooth analogues that are no different from real ones. Conducts a full examination, preparation in several stages and the implantation itself. Observes the patient throughout the entire period of rehabilitation after the intervention.
- A pediatric dentist is a doctor who deals with children's dental problems. Removes and treats baby teeth so that the molars are formed healthy, puts fillings, fights diseases associated with the oral cavity, which children are prone to at an early age. A pediatric dentist should not be a doctor, but a kind wizard who will convince the child to treat his teeth and be able to perform all the manipulations without tears.
Is it possible to take retraining courses?
By order of the Ministry of Health No. 707n, only doctors with internship or residency training in the specialty “Dentistry” or “General Dentistry” can undergo retraining in dentistry.
In accordance with Article 69, Federal Law No. 323, dental therapists must undergo retraining if they have not worked in their specialty for more than 5 years.
During retraining courses they study:
- rules of dental treatment;
- diagnosis of diseases;
- pathologies of dental development;
- mechanics and biomechanics of the maxillofacial apparatus.
Retraining courses can be conducted both face-to-face and remotely.
Advantages of distance learning:
- no need to take time off to study the course;
- Both a standard work plan and a personal one are available;
- the acquired skills can be applied before completing the course;
- Access to educational materials is available at any time during the year from the start of the course.
A typical vocational retraining program typically lasts more than 500 hours. With a daily load of 6-8 hours, you can complete the course in about 3 months.
To enroll, you do not need to wait for a group to be recruited. You will also need the following documents for enrollment:
- passport;
- diploma of education;
- certificate (residency or internship).
You can find out how much training to become a dentist costs from the manager who fills out the student’s application.
Upon completion of the course, a standard diploma is issued. An electronic copy is sent to the listener immediately. You can receive your completed diploma by mail or yourself. The document can be obtained even while in another country. For the document to have legal force, the DPO organization must have an education license.
Professional retraining / Health and medical sciences / Medicine / Dentistry
Orthopedic dentistry (for VMP)
Academy of Modern Technologies
Distance, All professional retraining
Tyumen
Training period
More details
Professional retraining / Health and medical sciences / Medicine / Dentistry
Surgical dentistry
Academy of Modern Technologies
Distance, All professional retraining
Tyumen
Training period
More details
Further Education / Health and Medical Sciences / Medicine / Dentistry
Dentistry therapeutic
Academy of Modern Technologies
Remote, All advanced training
Tyumen
Training period
More details
What a dentist should know and be able to do - personal qualities and skills
First of all, have a great desire to help people. There is no person who has never had a dental problem.
The doctor must find an approach to everyone, convey the need for the procedures performed and set them up for a positive outcome. Calm and support.
The profession is associated with the ability to work with a large amount of information at the initial stage; in the future, it is important to be able to successfully combine knowledge with practice. This is the basis for making a diagnosis - a decisive role in dental treatment.
A lot of daily work awaits the future specialist. The profession implies constant improvement and training, because modern dentistry does not stand still, new types of treatment appear every year.
This is important: a modern doctor must not only know about innovations, but also be able to apply them in practice.
Tips and tricks for employment
Starting a career path for a young specialist is not easy. To get a position as a practicing doctor, you need at least 3 years of work experience. To facilitate employment, yesterday's students should listen to the following recommendations:
- Those who do not have work experience should initially look for a position as a dental assistant. The person holding this position helps the doctor sterilize instruments, accompanies patients to examination rooms, performs medical manipulations, photographs, and performs other duties that will help him gain the necessary skills.
- Final year university students should look for an assistant position without waiting for their diploma. In this case, by the time they graduate, they will have a little experience that will help them find a job.
- After 1–2 years of working as an assistant, you can try to look for a position as a practicing dentist. The easiest way for a young doctor to get a job as a dental therapist. Working in this specialty will provide a large amount of knowledge and skills that will be useful in the future if the doctor wants to become an orthodontist, orthopedist or surgeon.
What subjects need to be taken
To enter the Department of Dentistry, students must pass mandatory exams in the subjects of biology and chemistry. An additional subject from the university and one of the applicant’s choice are also taken.
It is advisable to have at least a basic knowledge of Latin, which is the basis in medical terms. After 9th grade, you can go to college, where the requirements for OGE scores are much lower.
Like any university, medical schools have paid training (for those who do not pass the test) and budget training (available to certain categories of people and high-impact students whose Unified State Exam scores are close to 300).
The answer to the question of how much tuition costs should be found on the website of a specific university.
Self-care.
Are you used to caring for your patients? Don't forget about yourself! Those who want to change the world start with themselves. A hackneyed phrase, but relevant to this day, proven by the experience of successful people. Don't forget about constant self-development. You can take additional courses, watch webinars, attend events both in your field and in other industries. Knowledge will never be superfluous. For example, having mastered history, you will be able to maintain a conversation at the reception with a patient who loves history, thereby calming him down. Don't forget to take care of yourself. Neat clothing and a well-groomed appearance are necessary in all situations. Don't promise yourself what you can't fulfill, don't push yourself into strict limits. Learn self-control and self-discipline.
Follow the tips listed above and success will not take long to arrive! Become the best in your business!
Which universities offer training in this specialty?
According to statistics, medical education in Russia is of the highest quality, and this is the key to a healthy nation. There are no special dental universities in our country.
Almost every medical school is recruiting for the Faculty of Dentistry. Depending on the chosen educational institution, different forms of education will be offered: full-time, part-time, evening.
You can enroll after 11th grade. This specialty is also offered by medical technical schools and colleges, which can be entered after completing 9 grades.
As a rule, all educational institutions have budget places. To take them, you need to have a high score on the Unified State Examination, otherwise the cost of training will fluctuate up to 400 thousand for leading universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg and on average up to 250 thousand in the regions. Education in technical schools and colleges costs an order of magnitude lower.
The desire for perfectionism.
Perfectionism is the desire to achieve an ideal. It is necessary to develop a tendency towards perfectionism, because professionals who have achieved success in their field do not pursue big finances, but, above all, quality results. The best dental specialists focus on achieving impeccable quality of work performed, avoiding any slightest defects. A careless attitude to work will not allow you to achieve high performance. It is especially important for novice dentists to develop patience and a demanding attitude towards themselves.
Where can a dentist work?
Commercial dentistry is now leading the way in providing jobs. The state is pursuing a policy that supports medical workers, providing decent wages, high pensions and the opportunity to purchase subsidized housing.
This profession will always be popular and relevant, because every person has been a patient of a dentist for almost his entire life.
Advantages
Among the advantages, it is worth eliminating the demand for good specialists and the possibility of finding a good job.
The dentist also has the opportunity to set his own business and career goals and independence in choosing career options.
A flexible work schedule is also a plus.
The dentist profession is one of the most respected, so a good specialist will always be in demand and will be able to establish useful connections (there is an opportunity to meet business people).
Moral satisfaction from the fact that the doctor changes the patient’s life for the better, relieves pain, returns him a radiant smile (which is the key to a good mood).
High wages can also be considered an advantage.
How much do dentists earn?
The average salary in public dentistry is 25 - 50 thousand rubles per month , bonuses and subsidies are paid, depending on the length of service and qualifications of the doctor.
Commercial clients provide the opportunity to earn from 40 to 150 thousand rubles. These figures vary depending on the region.
Career growth of a dentist
Dentists are divided into categories: first, second and highest. To confirm the first category, you need experience (three years), protection of the following categories after seven and ten years, respectively.
Confirmation is carried out before the commission with a report on the work done. To advance up the career ladder, you need to be a talented and hardworking doctor; your merits will not go unnoticed.
Is it worth studying to become a dentist? Pros and cons of the profession
The main thing is to have a great desire to treat patients’ teeth. Working with people is psychologically difficult, and the profession also involves enormous physical labor: working with your hands, in one position, under tension.
But it's worth it - nothing compares to the happy and grateful faces of patients.
Going to study based on the mere demand for a profession and fairly high wages is not entirely correct. It’s like an artist’s calling to become a musician, because they get paid more, even though he is only talented in drawing. It is better to find a profession you like and achieve success there.
Being a doctor is not only a calling; doctors take the Hippocratic oath, which says “do no harm.” This should be the basis when choosing the profession of a doctor, and a dentist in the first place!
Resume sample
To find a job faster, you need a resume that can be sent to several companies at once. You need to know how to compose it correctly.
The resume must include:
- Full Name;
- Date of Birth;
- contact details: phone, email;
- citizenship;
- experience;
- basic and additional education;
- professional skills;
- knowledge of languages;
- personal qualities.
The resume should be simple and understandable; there is no need to write or invent a lot, because then in practice all the qualities and abilities of the specialist will be assessed.
