Orthodontists

Orthodontists

http://data.bls.gov/search/query/results?cx=013738036195919377644%3A6ih0hfrgl50&q=orthodontist+inurl%3Abls.gov%2Fooh%2F

Duties and Responsibilities:

Orthodontists treat problems in a patient’s teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth. They instruct on taking care of teeth and gums and on diet choices that affect oral health.

·         Remove decay

·         Fill cavities

·         Straighten teeth to correct bite issues

·         Teach patients about flossing and other aspects of dental care

·         Repair cracked or fractured teeth

·         Remove teeth

·         Keep patients from feeling pain during procedures

Salary: $149,310 per year

        $71.79 per hour

Education:

Most dental schools need a bachelor degree before entering dental school. All dental schools require that the students have completed certain required science courses, like biology, and chemistry. Major in science like biology which might increase the chances of being accepted. No specific major is required to enter most dental schools but requirements vary by the school.

Reflection: Do you think you would like to be one? Why? Why not?

I think I would like to be one because I would enjoy helping patients feel better from their mouths. I would also like to be one because I want patients to be healthy in their mouths and not have diseases, like gum disease or tooth aches.

Oral Care Professional

Oral Care Professional

http://www.ada.org/en/home-ada/education-careers/careers-in-dentistry/dental-team-careers/dental-hygienist

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm#tab-4

Duties and Responsibilities:

The oral care professional specializes in preventive oral health; they typically focus on techniques for oral hygiene. They provide three services for their patients, the first is preventive services to maintain good oral health. The second is the educational services to help the patients develop behaviors that can make their oral health better and help them understand the importance of these behaviors. They third type is therapeutic services which are treatments that are meant to stop disease and maintain healthy tissues in their mouths. They work together with dental professionals to contribute an interdisciplinary approach with the aim of providing optimum oral health care to the patients.

Salary: $96,280 

Education:

To become one you need an associate’s degree in dental hygiene. All of the states require them to be licensed, though the requirements vary by the state. High school students that are interested in becoming dental hygienists should take classes in biology, chemistry, and mathematics. Some of the dental hygienists programs require applicants to have completed at least 1 year of college.

Reflection: Do you think you would like to be one? Why? Why not?

I think I would not like to be one because I would not enjoy working this every day.

Periodontal

Periodontal

http://www.perio.org/consumer/periodontist2.htm

http://www.healthcareworkersalary.com/dentistry/periodontist-salary/

Duties and Responsibilities:

A Periodontist is a type of dentist that specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the periodontal disease. They are also experts in the treatments of oral inflammation. They receive extensive training in these areas, which include three additional years of education farther than dental school. They are also trained for preforming cosmetic periodontal procedures.

Salary: $270,000

Education:

To become a periodontist a person must go to an accredited dental school. Then they are required to undertake a 3 year post graduate program in periodontics. They do need to get a licensed in order to practice. Most dental school requires a bachelor’s degree to get admitted. Some don’t need this requirement. Dental schools require that the students take college level classes in science subjects, like chemistry, biology, anatomy, and physics.

Reflection: Do you think you would like to be one? Why? Why not?

I think I would like to be one because I like the idea of helping people out if they have a gum disease, or periodontal disease. I would like to treat patients into feeling better about their mouths and have less pain or irritation in their mouth.

Dental Technician

Dental Technician

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/dental-and-ophthalmic-laboratory-technicians-and-medical-appliance-technicians.htm

Duties and Responsibilities:

Dental technicians mold patient’s teeth to create crowns, bridges, dentures, and other dental appliance. They work dentists but don’t have as much contact with the patients because it is very limited. The technicians work with small hand tools, like files and polishers. They also work with different materials to make prosthetic appliances, including wax, plastic, and porcelain. In some cases, the technicians use computer programs to create appliances or to get impressions sent from a dentist’s office.

Salary: $36,090 per year

Education:

There are no formal educational requirements to become one but most have a high school diploma. Some colleges offer programs but the programs are not common. Students should take courses in science, mathematics, computer programming, and art.

Reflection: Do you think you would like to be one? Why? Why not?

I think I would not like to be one because I don’t want to see other people’s teeth and then later on mold them into something.