Dentistry is a very rewarding profession. Dentists provide the general public with valuable health service through diagnosis, treatment and education. A dentist’s work today is much broader than ever before. They have the skills and expertise to understand the oral health of their patient. Today’s dentists do more than fill and drill patient’s teeth. They perform a wide range of functions and procedures. A typical dentist is responsible for the following.

• Management and detection of oral problems
• Aesthetic improvement
• Correction
• Restoration
• Surgery
• Reconstruction
• Prevention

Being a dentist in Canada involves extensive education and considerable effort. These professionals are in demand not only in Canada but also overseas.  Dentistry is a career with a very high salary. It also offers job stability that is not found in other professions.

Requirements

After finishing high school, an individual must obtain a four year bachelor’s degree. These degrees must involve pre-dental education courses such as the following.

• Inorganic Chemistry
• Biology
• Physics
• Organic Chemistry
• Genetics
• Microbiology

However, some schools do not require physics and advanced biology. Requirements differ from school to school. It is very important to contact dental schools before enrolling. This is done so that applicants know what the specific admission requirements are. A simple way to obtain this data is to visit dental school websites.

One important requirement that applicants must submit is their Dental Aptitude Test scores. This is an exam administered by the Canadian Dental Association twice a year in February and November. This is done to evaluate a dental school applicant’s abilities in the following areas.

• Comprehension of scientific information
• Manual dexterity
• Three and two dimensional visual perception

General Academic Ability

As part of the admissions process, applicants must submit their Dental Aptitude Tests Scores. This is a mandatory requirement for all Canadian dental schools. However, this is only one factor that is considered in the application.

Applicants must remember that they need to sell themselves to enter dental school. This is very important as everyone has good scores and grades. The interview phase is everyone’s chance to set themselves apart from other applicants. They have to show the panel that they are sincere, well rounded and highly interested in the dental profession

It is also their chance to show that they know what they are getting themselves into. This is done by convincing the panel that they have done research about dentistry.

Accreditation

Dental Schools are usually accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (http://www.cda-adc.ca). However, these accredited schools are also recognized by the following organizations due to reciprocal agreements.

·         The Australian Dental Council (www.ada.org.au/)
·         The American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation

Dental School

It takes four years to finish dental school. The first two years of dental school are pre-clinical. Students are taught everything in thorough detail. They are essentially doctors that specialize in the oral region. Subjects that are taught in pre-clinical dentistry include the following.

• Pathology
• Histology
• Genetics
• Microbiology
• Physiology
• Biochemistry
• Anatomy

Additionally, students have laboratory classes. These sessions are designed to teach students everything involved in different dental jobs and includes the following.

• Making crowns and dentures
• Making bridges and waxups
• How to restore and drill teeth

Dental school lectures start every day at 8 a.m. and finishes at 5 p.m. On most days, students stay at school until 10 p.m as they need to practice in the simulation clinic and work in the laboratory. Students take part in clinical exercises during the latter part of their studies. Additionally, they may start performing dental procedures. After completing the program, students are awarded the title of either Doctor of Dental Medicine or Doctor of Dental Surgery.

Specializations

In Canada, there are nine dental specialties. The Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada accredits and reviews the education programs included in these dental specialties. Accreditation is a tool used by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada. This is a vital method in recognizing dental education programs that have met their stringent requirements.

Dental Public Health

This is the specialty and branch of dentistry that is concerned with the control and diagnosis of dental diseases. It also promotes oral health through organized community efforts.

Endodontics

This is the specialty and branch of dentistry that deals with studies about the dental pulp. Studies include the basic clinical sciences.

Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery

This is the specialty in dentistry that is concerned with diagnosis and surgical intervention in the tissues found in the maxillofacial and oral structures.

Oral Medicine and Pathology

This is a branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis and non-surgical management of temperomandibular, maxillofacial and oral disorders.

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

Maxillofacial and oral surgery is the branch of dentistry that deals with the production, interpretation and prescription of diagnostic images for the management and diagnosis of craniofacial complex disorders.

Dentofacial and Orthodontics Orthopedics

Dentofacial and orthodontic orthopedics is the branch of dentistry that is concerned with the correction, guidance and supervision of mature and growing dentofacial structures.

Periodontics

This is the specialty that primarily deals with the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of conditions and diseases of the surrounding and supporting tissues.

Paediatric Dentistry

Paediatric surgery is the branch of dentistry that is concerned with providing comprehensive and primary oral health diagnosis for children, infants and adolescents.

Prosthodontics

Prosthodontics involves the restoration, diagnosis and maintenance of oral function and health by providing the replacement of missing teeth or the restoration of normal teeth