Dental practitioners have interesting and challenging work, but their lifestyles can be quite restrictive. Dentists typically work long hours and must frequently travel for business or meet with other dental practitioner to collaborate on patient care. Working as a dentist involves many responsibilities that require time, dedication, and attention to detail. The personal cost of this job may be high as well. While dentistry is a rewarding career, it may not be the right fit for everyone. Some dental practitioner find it challenging to leave friends and family behind on most business trips, which can be even more difficult if you’re single or don’t have children at home. Let’s take a closer look at what life is like as a dentist!
The pros of working as a dentist
There are many positive aspects to a dental practitioner’s lifestyle. They can essentially set their own work hours, so long as they are meeting their patients’ needs. The flexibility in hours and location of work can make this an ideal career for other obligations to consider.
Income: The average dentist salary is $158, 962 annually, which is certainly a very large benefit to the profession! Even if you have to travel frequently, the income is significant enough to make the lifestyle worth the effort.
Satisfaction: There is nothing more satisfying than helping someone restore their smile and feel confident in their smile. Helping people overcome a fear of visiting the dentist and improving their oral health is a great feeling.
Contribution: Dentists provide a vital service to society. It is an honor to make a contribution to the health and daily well-being of others.
The cons of working as a dentist
Working hours in dentistry: Dentists generally work long hours, which could mean missing out on family activities or having limited free time. This is only amplified if you travel for business, which may require staying in a hotel for an extended period of time.
Unpredictability: You never know what the next day or patient will bring. You need to be ready for anything, from emergency procedures to dealing with sensitive patients.
While dentists can set their own hours and have flexibility in their day, they don’t have full control. Patients may show up unexpectedly or need emergency care, which can throw off your schedule.
Key Steps to becoming a dental practitioner
Find the right fit: You need to be able to visualize yourself in this career and have a passion for restoring and improving smiles. You also need to be able to put in the time and effort required for a career in dentistry.
Stay up to date: Continuing education is required in many states to maintain your dental license, and it’s also an excellent way to keep up with the latest techniques, technology, and research.
Apply for dental school: You’ll need to get top grades in your bachelor’s degree and take the DAT (Dental Admission Test) to gain entry into one of the nation’s dental schools.
Make a plan for financing your dentistry education: You’ll need to consider the cost of dental school, which can be well into the six figures.
Challenging lifestyle: While dentists have the flexibility to set their own hours, they also have a very challenging lifestyle. Many dental professionals have to travel frequently and work long hours which could challenge if you have children at home.
High student loan debt: In addition to the significant time and effort required to become a dentist, you’ll also need to consider the cost of education, which can be well into the six figures.
Dentists have a high satisfaction rating in the profession, but not everyone is a good fit for this career. You need to be able to visualize yourself in this profession and have a passion for restoring and improving smiles.
Conclusion
The life of a dentist is full of challenges and rewards. If you are interested in pursuing this career path, you should start by finding the right fit for yourself. Then, you should stay up to date on the latest dental procedures and technology and apply for dental school. Finally, make sure you are prepared for the challenging lifestyle that comes with the job. Then you may be well on your way to becoming a dentist.local cosmetic dentist.
