How to Become a Dentist
Dentists help keep your teeth and gums healthy by checking for problems, cleaning your teeth and fixing anything that’s damaged to improve your smile. They’re like doctors but focused on your oral health.
A Day In The Life
If you were a Dentist, you’d spend your day…
Checking your patient schedule, doing check-ups and talking to patients about their dental concerns
Fixing teeth, treating cavities and working with your dental team to keep every smile healthy
Explaining treatments to patients and updating records.
Wanna see a Dentist in action? Check out this video!
Is This Career Right for Me?
According to the Holland Codes, people in this career generally possess the following traits:
Challenges & Skills
No job is easy, but if you’ve got the right skills, you’ll be ready to handle anything that comes your way!
Challenges & Skills Needed to Overcome Them
Managing patient anxiety and fear
Skills: Strong communication and empathy skills
Keeping up with new dental technologies and treatments
Skills: Continuous learning and adaptability
Precision and steady hands are needed for delicate procedures
Skills: Excellent manual dexterity and focus
Handling long working hours and physical strain
Skills: Good time management and physical stamina
Managing business aspects (if running a practice)
Skills: Basic business and organisational skills
Dealing with diverse patient needs and complex cases
Skills: Problem-solving and critical thinking
Sound like you? Then you might just have what it takes to tackle these challenges and thrive as a Dentist!
Career Pathway
Thinking long term? This career path shows you how you can grow your role (and salary!) in the world of dentistry
With every step, you’ll gain more skills, responsibility and opportunities. If you’re passionate about medicine, health & sciences, this career path could be your perfect match!
Global Opportunities
Pros in this field are in demand everywhere—your career could literally take you places!
Top countries hiring professionals in this field:
United States
High demand and top-tier pay — dentists here can earn over USD 100,000. To join the ranks, you’ll need to pass the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE).
Canada
A growing dental scene with strong demand. If you pass the National Dental Examining Board (NDEB), you could earn around CAD 100,000 a year.
Australia
Dentists are in high demand, with salaries near AUD 90,000 and a great quality of life once you pass the Australian Dental Council (ADC) exam.
We hope this guide has helped you understand what to expect and inspired you to explore a path that fits your strengths and passions. Good luck—and have fun discovering your future!
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