Vocational and trade schools are popular and effective routes for someone to learn a particular trade and to become a qualified professional in a decent time frame, and this applies to anything from factory work to learning to work on construction crews to carpentry, and this also includes the medical field, such as dentistry. Becoming a dentist involves regular college education in addition to attending dental college, as well as actual training and practice to become a proper dentist, and hands-on dental training can go a long way for anyone aspiring to work at live patient clinics professionally and to have their own office. Getting real-world experience can be educational in ways that studying a textbook cannot, and if both theory and practice are put together, such as hands-on dental training, then a student can be put on the right path to becoming a professional. How can this be done, and what is the state of dentistry and tooth care today?

Becoming a Dentist

Statistics are complied in great detail for American employment in a wide variety of fields, and this includes the medical industry and dentists as well. For example, the Occupational Employment Statistics program has assembled details on Americans training to become dentists, whether through study or hands-on dental training as well as fully qualified dentists. The program has found that, for example, about 7,030 dental assistants were employed in the state of Arizona alone in 2017, and the same program carried out a survey that found that the mean annual wage for dental assistants in that state came out to $39.580. And in that same year, in 2017, about 127.6 million Americans visited a dentist’s office, providing plenty of opportunity for hands-on dental training and other practical experience for a student of a dental school. And overall, dentistry has been determined to be one of the top 10 most trusted and ethical professions in the entire United States, so dental students looking for hands-on dental training may find themselves with grateful and cooperative patients while getting their training done. Those training to become dentists often find the field rewarding; some 89% of all DANB Certificants have reported a high job satisfaction level, and survey results have shown that around 70% of dental assistants who hold the DANB’s CDA certification have received a raise in their current job position, and a huge 95% of DANB CDA Certificants have said that they view dental assisting as a career, and not just a job. Hands-on dental training can be highly rewarding for someone taking dental school seriously, and based on statistics, can lead to an equally rewarding career.

Other Dentistry

Why do Americans visit the dentist? Sometimes, they visit their dentist once a year or so for a regular checkup, and there may be no problems. Other times, a child or adult may have developed a more serious problem, such as a cavity, the need for a root canal, tooth decay, or crowding of the teeth, which all require a dentist’s attention. Sometimes, blunt injury will call for a dentist, such as if a tooth is chipped, its enamel is cracked, or if the tooth was knocked loose or knocked out of the mouth entirely. Blunt trauma and bacterial build-up are two common reasons for dental issues, although those who chew tobacco or smoke a lot may also compromise their teeth and face increased risks of mouth cancer, not to mention discoloration of the teeth all the while. For thee reasons and more, Americans are encouraged to avoid harmful dental behavior such as tobacco use, chewing on hard items like ice cubes, or others, and mouth guards are encouraged for when a person plays sports.

Fewer visits to the dentist will be needed when a person takes good care of their teeth. Brushing with a good tooth brush and toothpaste after every meal is a staple of tooth care, and flossing can help remove food particles from between the teeth. Anti-bacterial mouthwash can also be helpful. And what is more, on a cosmetic level, some patients get tooth whitening done, which helps with the color and luster of the teeth. The appearance of the teeth can impact a person’s social prowess, such as at job interviews. White, straight teeth can help with image.