Dental school is a rigorous four-year program. It’s challenging and intense, with long hours and little time for anything else. Many prospective dental students are afraid to take the leap because they have heard so many ridiculous myths about dentistry that they think it’s not worth it. Well, lets look at some points from a dentist’s eye.
Dentistry Myth: Dentists are rich
Dentists are not rich, and very few people in the profession earn enough to be considered “rich.” Most dentists work hard and have to put in many hours of overtime each week just to make ends meet. The average dentist earns a decent salary, but it is not an extravagant salary by any means.
Dentistry Fact: Few Dentists are successful
There are a few dentists who have become extremely wealthy because they have a very specialized skill or have been in practice for a long time and have built up a very successful practice. But most dentists are not rich and just get by like everyone else.
Myth: You can directly be an orthodontist
Dentists are trained to correct crooked teeth as well as cavities, so it’s only natural that some people get the two specialties confused. Orthodontists do not do any of the procedures that dentists do, so anyone who is interested in orthodontics does not need to be a dentist first.
Fact: You have to be a dentist to be an orthodontist
This is a very common misconception. Technically, you have to be a dentist first to become an orthodontist. But many people get these two dental specialties confused, and there is a reason for that. Orthodontists specialise in correcting crooked teeth, and dentists specialise in correcting tooth decay and performing dental surgeries.
The best way to determine what specialty you’d like to pursue is to research the two fields and see which one suits your personality and interests more. You should also consider what kind of salary you can expect to make in each field. Orthodontists earn less than dentists.
Myth: Dentistry is an easy career path
Dentists have a well-deserved reputation for working long hours, and it’s not uncommon for them to work 50 hours a week. This can wreak havoc on their personal lives and make it difficult to find time for friends and family. The hours are not the only thing that makes dentistry difficult.
Fact: Dentistry is not an easy career path
Dentists have to deal with a lot of stress because of the critical nature of their work. They are also often exposed to diseases and bacteria, and this can pose a serious health risk. Many dentists are so stressed out that they end up suffering from burnout. It is important to choose a career path that seems interesting to you but that you also know you’re capable of handling.
Dentists work long hours, and spend time doing surgery
This is another misconception about the profession. Dentists do perform surgery, but they spend most of their time treating cavities, filling teeth, and performing other preventative procedures. Most of these procedures are non-surgical, and you don’t have to be trained as an oral surgeon to do them. There are some procedures that are more surgical in nature, such as removing wisdom teeth. But even these surgeries account for less than 10% of the procedures performed by dentists.
Dental school will ruin your teeth and your mouth
This is another common misconception about dentistry. It’s true that dentists do use a lot of tools and procedures that can harm your teeth and gums, but they take great care to do as little damage as possible. They have the right training and equipment to keep themselves and their patients safe during procedures. The only way dental school will ruin your mouth is if you don’t follow good oral hygiene practices. But again, there are many students who enter dental school with excellent oral hygiene, and they graduate with beautifully healthy mouths.
Summing it up
All in all, there is nothing terribly wrong with pursuing a career in dentistry. It’s a noble profession and one that many people find very rewarding. But it’s important to dispel these myths before making the decision to pursue a career in dentistry.
