Dentistry is a difficult but rewarding profession. It takes a special kind of person to put their hands into another person’s mouth for a living. Dentistry offers many different kinds of jobs.
It is a well-paying industry, and there will always be a demand for it. If you are considering going into the dental profession, you should know the job options, the skills and training you must have, and the money you can expect to make.
Jobs in The Dental Industry
In order to work in the dental field, you should have exceptionally good manual dexterity. You should also have professional people skills and be able to make good judgments when it comes to treatment. According to TempMee, there are seven main jobs in the dental industry. They include:
- General Dentist
- Orthodontist
- Periodontist
- Oral Surgeon
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Hygienist
- Laboratory Technician
It takes eight years of college to become a dentist. If you want to specialize or become an oral surgeon or periodontist, it will take even longer. The average salary for a dentist in America is $207,652 per year.
It’ll take between 2 to 4 years to become a dental hygienist. A dental hygienist’s primary job is to clean teeth, take x-rays, and examine people for gingivitis and oral diseases.
The more formal education you have, the more treatments you can perform and the more money you will make. Hygienists make between $60,000 and $100,000 a year and have a less than 1% unemployment rate.
It takes a person between 9 months and 2 years to become a dental assistant. Dental assistants schedule appointments, keep records and organize tools for dentists. Dental assistants make an average of $ 38,370 a year.
What Is The Best Way To Find Dental Jobs
There are several different ways a new dental professional can find a job. You can go to the employment office at the school that you attend. Or you can go to a dental employment agency. There are also apps that you can use. Each of these methods comes with its advantages and disadvantages.
Going to the Career Center at School
Most dental schools will have an internship program as part of their training. They will also have a counselor who can help you with your resume and get you your first job.
The jobs that they have listed at these offices are for beginners and will pay accordingly. The career center is fine for your first job, but you will find better-paying jobs in other places once you get some experience.
Dental Employment Agencies
There is a great demand for dental professionals all over the country. There are employment agencies entirely devoted to the dental profession. You can find both temporary and permanent work at these agencies.
Often times a dental office will need help at the last minute. If one person is missing from a dental office, it can cause major delays. When an employee calls out sick, the office manager of a dental practice will often call a dental temporary agency to find someone to fill in.
The employment agency will have a database full of dental professionals to choose from. They will call the professionals who qualify for that particular position until they find someone.
Working as a temporary will give you more flexibility than if you had a permanent job. If you are interested in getting a permanent job, working as a temporary will give you a chance to see if an office is right for you.
If you want to sign up for a dental temporary agency, all you have to do is go to the office and have an interview. They will verify your license and any previous employment and start sending you out on jobs.
Dental Apps
There are dental apps nowadays that make finding a dental hygienist job as easy as working for Uber. All you have to do is fill out a profile with your name, phone number, and professional information. You will list your years of experience, any training that you have, and your licensure information. Once your profile is approved, you can start taking jobs.
You will get a notification every time there is a job in your area that matches your skill set. If you want to take the job, you simply hit accept, the dentist’s office approves you, and you go right to the office. You should get paid at the end of the day through the app.
Dentistry is a great career path. If you use every option you can to find a job, you are certain to get a good salary and the kind of work environment you desire.
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