If you have fallen in love with cosmetic dentistry, and you are considering becoming a cosmetic dentist, then there would be a likelihood of you wanting to know what sort of professional training is required, in order to become such a practitioner.
That is the question we will be addressing ourselves to, in this discussion.
Incidentally, a cosmetic dentist is simply a dental health practitioner who is concerned with the cosmetic aspects of dentistry; or simply put, with the aspect of dentistry that have to do with 'looks.
' When people go visiting a cosmetic dentist, they want to have their looks (with regard to their teeth) improved.
Specifically, they may be looking to have their teeth whitened.
Or they may be looking to have their misaligned teeth straightened.
Or yet still, they may be looking to have some of their missing teeth replaced.
But all in all, the bottom-line would be that they would be looking to have their looks improved.
So, what sort of professional training does the cosmetic dentist receive, in order to be in a position to help people in this way? Well, in a nutshell, the person aspiring to cosmetic dentistry first has to receive basic training in dentistry (which makes him or her a general dentist), before receiving specialized training, in the cosmetic aspects of dentistry, which is what makes him or her a cosmetic dentist.
But even before getting to this point of seeking professional training in dentistry, such a person needs a strong educational background, which would bring them to a position where they can cope with the rigorous courses that constitute dentistry.
Take note that students for dentistry, in the first two years of their study, undergo the same courses as other medical students - stuff like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and so on.
These are courses that need a person who is well grounded educationally.
Many jurisdictions have actually made it mandatory for anyone considering pursuing these medical-related courses (of which dentistry is one) to have a basic degree in the sciences.
So, in order to become a cosmetic dentist, you may find yourself first having to enroll for a general science degree (say in biochemistry, chemistry, zoology or something of that nature).
There are, however, some jurisdictions that allow people to move straight from high school to a school of dentistry, but where that happens, the requirements - in terms of high school scores for getting into the schools of dentistry - can be extremely stringent.
Once you are in the school of dentistry, you will be put through courses in all areas of dentistry: orthodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, paedetiatric dentistry and so on.
This, of course, will be happening after having successfully gone through the basic medical courses - the likes of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and so on.
It is once you are through with basic school of dentistry, hence having qualified as a dentist (and probably having practiced for a while) that you can get started on the specialized studies that lead you to cosmetic dentistry.
Normally, these specialized studies will be taking place during the postgraduate phase of your dentistry training; so that you are a general dentistry practitioner first, and more specifically, a cosmetic dentist.
That is the question we will be addressing ourselves to, in this discussion.
Incidentally, a cosmetic dentist is simply a dental health practitioner who is concerned with the cosmetic aspects of dentistry; or simply put, with the aspect of dentistry that have to do with 'looks.
' When people go visiting a cosmetic dentist, they want to have their looks (with regard to their teeth) improved.
Specifically, they may be looking to have their teeth whitened.
Or they may be looking to have their misaligned teeth straightened.
Or yet still, they may be looking to have some of their missing teeth replaced.
But all in all, the bottom-line would be that they would be looking to have their looks improved.
So, what sort of professional training does the cosmetic dentist receive, in order to be in a position to help people in this way? Well, in a nutshell, the person aspiring to cosmetic dentistry first has to receive basic training in dentistry (which makes him or her a general dentist), before receiving specialized training, in the cosmetic aspects of dentistry, which is what makes him or her a cosmetic dentist.
But even before getting to this point of seeking professional training in dentistry, such a person needs a strong educational background, which would bring them to a position where they can cope with the rigorous courses that constitute dentistry.
Take note that students for dentistry, in the first two years of their study, undergo the same courses as other medical students - stuff like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and so on.
These are courses that need a person who is well grounded educationally.
Many jurisdictions have actually made it mandatory for anyone considering pursuing these medical-related courses (of which dentistry is one) to have a basic degree in the sciences.
So, in order to become a cosmetic dentist, you may find yourself first having to enroll for a general science degree (say in biochemistry, chemistry, zoology or something of that nature).
There are, however, some jurisdictions that allow people to move straight from high school to a school of dentistry, but where that happens, the requirements - in terms of high school scores for getting into the schools of dentistry - can be extremely stringent.
Once you are in the school of dentistry, you will be put through courses in all areas of dentistry: orthodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, paedetiatric dentistry and so on.
This, of course, will be happening after having successfully gone through the basic medical courses - the likes of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and so on.
It is once you are through with basic school of dentistry, hence having qualified as a dentist (and probably having practiced for a while) that you can get started on the specialized studies that lead you to cosmetic dentistry.
Normally, these specialized studies will be taking place during the postgraduate phase of your dentistry training; so that you are a general dentistry practitioner first, and more specifically, a cosmetic dentist.
SHARE
