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Is life better as a Doctor or a Dentist?

Dentist or Doctor Surgeon

If you’re trying to decide which medical profession is right for you, you might find yourself wondering how a doctor differs from a dentist. These two career paths involve working with people and helping them stay healthy. But they also have some pretty notable differences that you’ll want to take into account before making your decision. So, if you’ve been thinking about becoming a doctor or a dentist, here’s a quick look at what these two careers entail.

What’s the difference between a doctor and a dentist?

Although it’s common to call someone a doctor even if they don’t actually have a medical degree, the term is usually reserved for people with a PhD in a medical field. Doctors are licensed medical professionals who are able to treat and diagnose patients, prescribe medicine, and perform surgeries in a variety of specialties.

Consulting with Doctors

The specific degree you choose will determine your career path. Doctors who treat patients with general health care issues are known as general practitioners, or GPs. If you decide to become a GP, your focus will be on treating a wide variety of conditions. Specialists are trained to treat very specific issues, like cardiology or orthopedic surgery. Dentists are medical professionals who specialise in oral health care.

They are licensed to examine and treat teeth and oral cavity problems, but they do not have the same level of training as doctors.

Dental Careers: Becoming a Dentist

Becoming a dentist is a great way to become a medical professional who works directly with people. If you become a dentist, you’ll be in charge of examining patients’ teeth and performing treatments like fillings, root canals, and oral surgery. You’ll also help people prevent issues by giving them advice about the best way to care for their teeth.

Dr Chirag Chamria Dentist

Becoming a dentist is a great choice for someone who enjoys helping others and finds comfort in working directly with patients. Unlike doctors, dentists work in a smaller scale and often have more set hours. Many dentists have offices they go to on a regular basis and treat patients in three- to four-hour sessions. This can be a great way to start your own business as a dentist, too.

Careers: Becoming a Doctor

Becoming a doctor is a truly unique career path that will give you the opportunity to help people on a much larger scale than a dentist would. While some doctors focus on pediatrics or family medicine, others choose to specialize in areas like cardiology or orthopedics. If you become a doctor, you may be treating patients with a wide variety of conditions, from broken bones to chronic diseases like diabetes. You may also be delivering babies and performing surgeries. Becoming a doctor takes a lot of time and effort: you’ll need to go to medical school for four years, then complete a residency program before you’re able to practice medicine.

How to become a Doctor vs. Dentist

If you’re interested in becoming a dentist, you’ll want to start by earning a bachelor’s degree. You can earn this degree in any subject, but you’ll probably want to major in science. After you’ve earned your BA, you can apply to dental school, where you’ll spend the next four years earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery, or DDS.

Once you’ve graduated, you’ll need to apply for a residency program and find a dentist who is willing to hire you during your training. Becoming a doctor is a longer process, but it’s also a much more advanced and respected position. If you want to become a doctor, you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree in any subject and then apply to medical school.

Pros of becoming a Doctor

You’ll be in demand no matter what: even during economic downturns, doctors are always in high demand. This means that even if the specific type of medicine you want to practice is less popular at the moment, you’ll still be able to find work.

Doctors will have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings: you can work in a private office, hospital, or even travel to other countries to help people. Once you’re a doctor, there are so many ways you can choose to practice medicine.

Conscious Sedation
Doctor in medical mask and protective clothes standing with an anesthesia mask in her hand

You’ll have flexible hours: doctors have traditionally set schedules, but you may also have some freedom to work fewer hours if you have a family or other commitments. And if you decide to practice in a rural area, you may have more control over your schedule as well.

Cons of becoming a Doctor

You’ll need to complete a lot of schooling: becoming a doctor is a long and intensive process.

You’ll need to spend four years in a college-level program, then four years in medical school, followed by a three- to seven-year residency program.

Dr Chirag Chamria Dentist
Dental Consultation

You’ll need to pass a licensing exam: while many people manage to complete this process successfully, it’s important to keep in mind that not everyone passes the first time around. If you fail, you’ll need to wait a certain amount of time before giving the test again.

You’ll need a large amount of student debt: all medical students have to take out student loans, but the amount you’ll need to borrow will depend on your degree and the school you choose.

Pros of becoming a dentist

You’ll have a more limited patient base: while doctors need to treat a wide variety of patients, dentists treat people who have specific tooth and oral issues. This means that you may have fewer patients to treat each day.

Dentist earn a decent amount of money: the average dentist salary is around $150,000, which is more than the average doctor salary. And the more years of experience you have, the more you’ll be able to make.

You’ll have a more predictable schedule: unlike doctors, dentists usually work regular hours and have weekends off. And you may have more control over your schedule, as some dentists hire their own staff members, allowing them to decide when and how much their employees work.

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Issued in public interest

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