Analyses of a Career as a Dentist

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Recommended: History of dentistry chapter 1

Dentists are often thought of as people to be feared. Most people try to put off going to the dentist until their teeth hurt so much that they have no choice but to visit the feared dental office. Waiting for pain in the mouth or gums before visiting a dentist is one of the worst things a person can do. Paul J. Flaer, et al. observes, “Fear in approaching the dental visit may be generated by psychosocial factors such as history of bad experience(s) at the dentist and by the effect of poor representations of dental treatment in the media” (104). If more people could get over their dentophobia they might have better oral health and probably better overall health.

Many people do not realize how important the dentist really is but the dentist is just as important as a medical doctor. Preventative dentistry is a crucial component in overall health. Preventative dentistry helps protect against things like gum disease and tooth decay. Gum disease and tooth decay can lead to oral cancer and in some circumstances heart disease.

Dentists have been around as long as man can remember. Early dentist were often the doctors or the barbers in the community. Early dentistry consisted mostly of pulling teeth. Anyone with a pair of pliers could do the job. Dentistry has evolved over the years and involves much more than just pulling teeth today. General Dentistry today involves many things including: oral hygiene, filling caries (cavities), root canals, crowns, and making dentures. Some dentists specialize in areas such as orthodontics or oral surgery.

The purpose of this essay is to point out the importance of dentistry and encourage more high school graduates to consider the dental field as a career. There are many benefits to being a dentist...

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...l Association, September 2009. Web. 20 January 2014.

Flaer, Paul J., et al. “A Psychosocial Approach To Dentistry For The Underserved: Incorporating Theory Into Prectice.” Journal Of Health Care Finance 37.1 (2010): 101-108. Business Source Premier. Web. 20 February 2014.

“Occupation Profile.” careerinfonet.org. U. S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 2014. Web. 28 January 2014.

Lorincz, John E. Personal interview. 14 February 2014

Sams, Lattice D.,et al. “Adoption And Implementation Of Policies To Support Preventive Dentistry Initiatives For Physicians: A National Survey Of Medicaid Programs.” American Journal Of Public Health 103.8 (2013): e83-e90. Business Source Premier. Web. 30 January 2014.

United States. “Dentists: Occupational Outlook Handbook.” BLS.gov. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8 January 2014. Web. 20 January 2014.

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