To become a dentist, you will need good high school grades and you will need four years of college. After college, you will need to spend four more years in dental school, two in the lab and in class and two in clinics. You should have a strong grasp of sciences such as chemistry and biology, mathematics, and an art subject that shows you are creative and good with your hands. After high school, look for scholarships because studying to be a dentist is very expensive. You should be sure that you want to be a dentist because many would-be dentists drop out before the 8 years are over. You need to be determined and you need to have the qualities of a dentist such as a sense of humor, patience, conversation skills, and attention to details.

If you can, volunteer or find part-time work in a dental office. This will help you determine whether you have what it takes. You should weigh your other options carefully to find out whether there is something you can do better. In college, you will focus on subjects that place emphasis on sciences, mathematics, and liberal arts in order to become a dentist. After college, study hard for the DAT, or the Dental Admissions Test. This test, together with your average GPA, your performance in sciences, and recommendations will determine your admission. Some dental schools are better than others and you should therefore do research before choosing.

Once you are done with dental school, you will be a generalist and you will need between 2 and 5 years to become a specialist. Whatever you specialize in should be based on your skills.

You can become an oral surgeon, an endodologist, an implantologist, a periodontist, or an orthodontist. You should also consider market needs and your personal preference. After dental school, you should work with a registered dentist for a while to gain the necessary experience. You should note that licenses are canceled if you do not follow the rules set by the board and this will ruin your chances of becoming a dentist.

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Last Modified : February 4th, 2010 Filed under : Employment Navigate : Previous post / Next post