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Dentistry College Essay

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With dentistry having a positive job outlook, many people are working to meet certain requirements to become a dentist in the United States. The first step to becoming a dentist in America is to graduate from high school and enroll in a four-year college or university (Educational Requirements for Dentists). While at a four-year college, one must then obtain a bachelor’s degree and take classes that will prepare them for dental school. Some colleges may offer pre-dentistry as a major, but if not one could major in biology, organic chemistry, physics, calculus, physiology, or human genetics (Educational Requirements for Dentists). After earning a bachelor’s degree one must then take the Dental Admissions Test prior to getting accepted into…show more content…
There are not dental schools in every state, but there are numerous dental schools around the nation (U.S. Dental Schools). In North Carolina there are currently only two dental schools: East Carolina University of Dentistry in Greenville, North Carolina and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Other schools that are close to North Carolina include Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry in Richmond, Virginia, Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine in Charleston, South Carolina, and Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, Tennessee (U.S. Dental Schools). In recent years many dental schools have closed down due to rising costs and low attendance. In the 1980s, America produced around 5,750 new graduates from dental school, while in 2007 America only produced 4,700 dental school graduates (The American Way of…show more content…
One group of people that are essential to a dentist and to a dental office are dental hygienists. Dental hygienists work very closely aligned with dentists for the overall health of patients (Dental Hygienists). These individuals have the responsibility of screening patients, taking dental x-rays, removing plaque from a patient’s teeth, applying preventative materials, teaching patients appropriate dental procedures, counseling patients about the importance of good nutrition, making impressions of teeth for any reason, and helping with office and administrative tasks. Dental hygienists have the advantages of being able to work with a wide variety of people, being able to have flexible work hours, and the security that they will have a job due to the wide importance of dental health and the positive outlook of their job, which is much higher than that of the average job (Dental Hygienists). To become a dental hygienist, one must only have an associate’s degree and receive a license from their state (Dental Hygienists: Summary). Like dentists, the salary for a dental hygienist varies for everyone. Dental hygienists on average make around $70, 200 a year. These individuals also have many benefits that come along with their job. Some of these benefits could include retirement, healthcare, free dental care, paid time off, and
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