Overview
As a pediatric dentist, you will be providing dental services to young people. Most of these practices are for children under the age of 18. While regular dentists can also care for young patients, many parents want to make sure that their children’s first dental visits are with professionals who are trained specifically in how to care for young patients. Remember that kids are not just smaller versions of adults. You need to have a good understanding of the differences so that you can help children overcome their fear of dentists in order to build the foundation for good oral health for the rest of their lives.
Generally, you’re going to go into practice for yourself. That’s the standard route for most professionals in this field, including the pediatric dentist. Of course, you may also establish your practice with a partner. Most dental offices will have a staff as well, including an office manager and dental assistant staff, such as hygienists.
Because dental emergencies are a rare occurrence, you can expect to work a standard 40 hour work week, although the pediatric dentist may want to have some flexible scheduling with Saturday or evening appointments available for working parents and to prevent interfering with the school day of their patients.
As a pediatric dentist, you may also be able to travel around your community providing dental care to children and young people. You may also get the opportunity to speak to students in schools about the importance of dental hygiene. These activities may be more important than you realize since dental problems, including infections, are becoming more common in children today.
Necessary Training & Education
Becoming a pediatric dentist requires the same type of training you will need to become a more general dentist. That means you will need to complete four years of schooling after completing your college education. Just over 50 dental schools have been accredited by the ADA (American Dental Association). To get into one of these schools, you’re going to need a solid academic performance and coursework that will prepare you for the demands of the dental program. For example, even starting in high school you should take as many science, health, and math courses as possible. When you begin college, you probably won’t find a pre-dental major. Instead, continue with the science courses.
Before you can be admitted to dental school, you will need to pass the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Applicants to the schools are selected based on their scores on the test, as well as their academic performance, recommendations, and other factors. Doing as well as possible in all of these areas is critical because competition for those dental school spots is intense.
Once admitted to a dental school, you will spend the next four years learning the basics of the dentistry. Courses in anatomy, biochemistry, laboratory techniques, and other necessary areas of study will be completed during the first half of your studies. For most of the final two years, you will be getting hands-on experience on real patients in a supervised dental clinic. At the end of your studies, you will either receive a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) degree.
Additionally, you will need to be licensed in your state before being able to practice dentistry. The requirements for these licenses vary but most of the states do require the successful completion of both a written and practical exam.
In addition to your dental education, you will also need to have some other skills. Obviously, being a pediatric dentist will require you to enjoy working with children. You will also need good spatial ability and good visual memory. Having manual dexterity is also essential in your position. Dentists of all types should have good oral communication skills. Having some knowledge of business can be useful since you will probably be opening and running your own practice.
Job Outlook and Salary
Overall, the demand for dentists will grow at about the same rate as most jobs in the United States. With many dentists retiring or switching to part-time practices as they get older, the demand for new practices will continue to offer opportunities for new pediatric dentists. Unfortunately, the downturn in the U.S. economy may hinder the current demand for dentists. Because dental insurance is becoming less common and patients are expected to pay for their services out-of-pocket, when finances become tight dental services are often one of the things that are cut from the family budget.
Despite these factors, the average salary for a pediatric dentist is around $137,000. When you’re working in a private practice, you are likely to earn more.
Conclusion
Working as a pediatric dentist can give you the chance to help young people learn about good oral hygiene while also helping them have early positive dental experiences that will encourage them to continue caring for their teeth in the future as well. Despite the educational demands, the income potential makes the effort worth it.
