Everything about the dentist profession: history, description, pros and cons, specialties, training

What profession could a modern person not imagine his life without? Every day we meet hundreds of representatives of different fields, but day X comes, and then we start thinking about those specialists whom many are afraid of. We are, of course, talking about dentists. Many are afraid of these doctors and endure toothache to the last, so today we decided to tell you more about the dental profession and prove that these are wonderful and kind people who wish their patients only goodness and health. What specializations exist in dentistry, does this profession have pros and cons, and where should you go to study to become a dentist? The dentist-therapist answered all our questions Elena Bobkova.

Story

The history of the profession goes back a long way. The first mention of dental diseases appeared in the writings of Hippocrates. Moreover, he proposed eliminating them with the help of a hot iron. In those days, many people suffered from toothache, and the mortality rate from ordinary gumboil was quite high. Then knowledge about teeth and their care begins to develop rapidly.

In the East, in 500 AD, the first toothbrushes appeared. Forceps for removing diseased teeth appeared in the 4th century AD. Ancient civilizations suffered quite a lot from toothaches, so powerful drugs appeared to relieve them: arsenic, opium, etc. Already in these times, people realized that it was possible not only to remove a diseased tooth, but also to treat it, eliminating only the damaged area. So in 659 the first fillings appeared. Dentistry was developing rapidly in Europe.

This branch of knowledge came to Russia during the reign of Peter the Great. It was he who officially introduced the profession of dentist. From now on, the rapid development of dentistry begins in our state. In 1881, the first educational institution that trained future dentists appeared in St. Petersburg. Behind him, similar institutions are opening throughout the state.

Modern dentistry is a high-tech science that is constantly improving methods of treatment and prevention of oral diseases. Even the loss of a tooth is no longer a problem, because there are prosthetics, extensions and many other procedures aimed at creating the ideal “Hollywood” smile for every person.

What personal qualities should a dentist have?

A dentist , like any other doctor, works with people experiencing discomfort and pain, therefore attention and patience are the most important qualities of this specialist. In addition, the dentist must have the following personal qualities:

• restraint;

• tact;
• stress resistance;
• communication skills;
• tolerance;
• goodwill;
• ability to listen and reassure;
• responsibility;
• accuracy;
• neatness;
• cleanliness.

We must not forget that dentistry, as well as medicine in general, is actively developing. Therefore, a dentist needs to constantly improve, read scientific works, new articles, and attend advanced training courses. In other words, there is no place in this profession for lazy people who do not want to learn something new. Well, since the dentist works with delicate technologies and high-precision small instruments, people with diseases of the central nervous system, musculoskeletal system, impaired fine motor skills of the fingers and eye diseases will not be able to work in this industry.

Description

The dentist's profession covers a fairly wide range of activities: treatment, prevention, surgical interventions, prosthetics, bite correction and much more. Therefore, modern science has divided this branch of knowledge into several specific areas:

• Dentist-therapist. This is the specialist most familiar to each of us. He conducts an initial examination and performs standard dental treatment - eliminating caries, inflammatory processes and infectious diseases of the oral cavity. This is the first specialist the patient sees. His responsibilities include diagnosis, treatment or referral to a more specialized specialist.
• Orthopedic dentist. This is a specialist who deals with the elimination of bite deformities and dental prosthetics. He knows all the features and nuances of these processes. Proficient in prosthetics (removable, fixed, combined) and microprosthetics.
• Dentist-surgeon. This is a specialist who eliminates defects through surgical interventions. This doctor routinely deals with dental implantation and extraction. He can handle procedures aimed at preserving teeth, treating inflammatory processes and neoplasms of the oral cavity and small facial tumors. He prepares the mouth for the subsequent prosthetic procedure, treating disease processes of the TMJ, trigeminal nerve and salivary glands. His responsibilities include surgical treatment of wounds of the face, mouth and neck, plastic surgery and reconstruction of the jaw, diagnosis of common severe diseases based on their symptomatic manifestations in the face, mouth and neck. These usually include tuberculosis, syphilis, etc. This specialist also performs operations on periodontal surfaces.
• Maxillofacial surgeon. This specialist performs surgical interventions of varying complexity. They are deeper and more complex than those of a dental surgeon. Such surgical interventions are performed under general anesthesia and require a lot of knowledge and skills.
• Pediatric dentist. Milk teeth have their own specifics and a number of features. This specialist knows everything about their structure and correct treatment methods. In addition, he is also a good psychologist. It’s not so easy to put a child in a dentist’s chair.
• Dentist-orthodontist. This is a specialist who works with dental anomalies that arise as a result of natural processes: genetic predisposition, age-related changes or deformations due to tooth loss or periodontal disease. Unlike a prosthodontist, he does not deal with cases that result from trauma.

All these specializations are combined under the name of the profession “dentist”. They include a huge range of knowledge and skills. These specializations are irreplaceable.

What specialties to study?

In order to become one of the specialists in the field of maxillofacial and dental pathologies, you should choose the specialization “Dentistry”.

Types of dentist profession (specialties)

Not all people understand many of the names of medical professions, so it is necessary to clarify which of these specialists does what.

Dentist-therapist

Responsible for diagnosis, examinations and general treatment. He can fill and restore teeth in the simplest way, prepare the oral cavity for prosthetics, remove nerves, and also treat a number of diseases (flux, caries, pulpitis, periodontitis, gingivitis and inflammation of the nerves).

Dentist-orthodontist

It is related to the correction of incorrect position of teeth in the oral cavity (when teeth sit either too sparsely or run over one another). The main tools in the profession of “orthodontist” are plates, braces and traymers.

Orthopedic dentist

The profession of “orthopedic dentist” involves prosthetics and dental restoration. The first option is used when there is nothing left to save, but with the second, restoration of the diseased tooth is still possible. Orthopedists are assisted by dental technicians.

Dental surgeon

The profession of “dental surgeon” indicates that the doctor operates on the jaws, facial joints and bones, and removes teeth in case of defects, tumors, injuries and other diseases. They also prepare the oral cavity for surgery performed by an orthopedist and remove the implants.

Dental hygienist

It is needed to examine the oral cavity and teeth, remove plaque, and polish enamel. He also advises on the prevention of dental diseases and hygiene procedures.

Periodontist

Their area of ​​action is the gums and soft tissues that support and surround the teeth. They will also help with tooth mobility, bleeding gums, the appearance of tartar and plaque on the teeth, and bad breath.

Pediatric dentist

The profession “dentist for children” specializes in the same functions of a dental therapist, but only when applied to children’s bodies, for example, when removing teeth.

Dentist-prosthetist

After the patient has attended a consultation with a dentist, who has recognized the impossibility of treating the tooth with the tools available to him, the prosthetist begins to deal with it. The latter can offer the patient different options for dentures, after which he makes impressions of the teeth, which are matrices for the manufacture of dentures. Then the prosthetist tries on the manufactured prosthesis, adjusts it and securely fastens it in the client’s mouth.

Where to study

You can get a dental diploma in almost every regional center of the Russian Federation. The following higher education institutions are recognized as the most prestigious:

1. Moscow State Medical and Dental University named after. A. I. Evdokimova.
2. St. Petersburg State Pediatric University.
3. First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov.
4. North-Eastern Federal University named after M.K. Ammosova.
5. Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN).

These universities, like many others, will allow you to obtain all the necessary knowledge for successful employment as a dentist.

Where can I find a job as a dentist?

Dentist vacancies are available in regular clinics and in private or public dental institutions. The specific nature of the work never leaves dentists idle.

Job responsibilities of a dentist

• Reception of patients and their treatment.
• Sanitation of the oral cavity and preventive examinations.
• Maintaining medical records.

Certain dental specialties have additional responsibilities. For example, an orthopedic dentist is responsible for working with optical instruments and micro-invasive prosthetic methods.

Requirements for the profession of a dentist

People who have:

• higher medical education;
• certificate for each specialization and medical book;
• work experience in the specialty;
• computer knowledge.

What do you have to do at work and specializations?

The range of activities of a dentist directly depends on his specialization.

The dentist-therapist daily encounters people coming for preventive examinations or with acute pain for caries treatment. He removes the affected areas of the tooth using special equipment and places crowbars on them to close the exposed tooth tissue and prevent further development of disease-causing processes. The dentist also treats inflammatory processes of the gums. He knows how to diagnose the stage of the disease and select individual correct treatment. The dentist is constantly faced with infectious, fungal and bacterial processes in the oral cavity. These are various stomatitis, candidiasis, etc. They can only be eliminated through skillful selection of treatment.

Surgical specialties. These doctors perform surgical interventions and tooth extractions. Their activity is associated with the need to open tissues of the oral cavity, face or neck to carry out the necessary manipulations. It is the surgeon who removes teeth, plastics these areas and eliminates tumor formations. Abscesses, abscesses - all this is the sphere of activity of a dental surgeon or maxillofacial surgeon.

Orthopedic dentist. This specialist eliminates defects in the jaw and tooth growth line that arise as a result of injury. He also deals with prosthetics and implantation. His work is complex and requires maximum precision and care. The slightest deviation and the work will have to start all over again.

Dentist-orthodontist. This specialist deals with the elimination of deformations that are a consequence of age-related changes. He usually works with malocclusions, eliminating them by installing brackets, plates and braces.

Pediatric dentist. The range of his responsibilities is similar to that of a dental therapist. He only works with children and teenagers. It is important for this specialist to persuade the child to treat his teeth and teach patients the rules of oral care.

Study, courses and demand

Every dentist has a long and thorny career path. It all starts in one of the most difficult educational institutions - medical school. A diploma issued at the end of school does not guarantee admission to a government-funded place. Therefore, most modern specialists graduate from paid departments of medical universities. On average in Russia, studying at a medical university costs about 300 thousand per year, and this is not the highest price. The training lasts for five years, then specialists undergo residency for two years to gain experience and develop in a certain specialization. Only after this can the doctor begin to work fully.

And it would seem that the training is over. But not in medicine, since with the development of modern technologies and the improvement of materials, approaches to dental treatment also change. Therefore, a dentist must annually attend various seminars, courses and lectures to improve his knowledge and exchange valuable experience with colleagues.

Now let's talk about salary. The payment a dentist receives depends on several factors: the doctor’s experience, his place of work, and the complexity of the treatment performed. It's no secret that dentists in private clinics earn much more than their colleagues from public dentistry. However, getting into a well-known clinic with a large flow of patients is not at all easy due to high competition. In Russia, on average, a dentist earns about 70 thousand rubles, but doctors always have a chance to earn more.

Don't forget about advanced training. According to Russian legislation, dentists must improve their qualifications every five years. This can be done by attending medical conferences and courses, which we talked about earlier.

Photo from the personal archive of Elena Bobkova /

Who is this profession suitable for?

This profession is suitable for people with well-developed coordination of movements, in particular fine motor skills of the hands. Good long-term memory and 100% vision are important. The slightest inaccuracy and the patient may lose a tooth or experience severe pain.

Demand

This profession is in very high demand.

Negative aspects of work

The profession attracts high school students and applicants with the opportunity to earn good money. But before making a final choice in favor of this field of activity, it is necessary to consider its disadvantages. These include:

• expensive training;
• long period of gaining experience;
• great competition among colleagues;
• high level of responsibility;
• The work of a dentist is accompanied by physical activity;
• the need for close communication with people who are often negative towards dentists.

How does one usually build a career?

A career can be built in two directions:

• Practical. A dental intern develops into a full-time doctor. Then, gaining experience and demonstrating your development, you can grow to the head of the department and deputy head physician. The peak of the career is the position of chief physician.
• Theoretical. This is a scientific activity. To do this, upon graduation, you should apply to graduate school. Then you should defend your candidate's and doctoral dissertations. This will help you open a private school, which will be the peak of your career.

Qualities required by a dental specialist

Any person who has dealt with representatives of this profession notes that dentists are balanced and pedantic people who perform their work scrupulously and painstakingly.

Dental treatment can be compared to the work of a jeweler - the doctor’s actions must be so precise and nuanced. Let us list the main qualities that a dentist requires in his work:

• accuracy;
• ability to concentrate;
• endurance;
• excellent vision;
• clear eye;
• good memory;
• good physical health;
• developed fine motor skills of the hands;
• patience;
• emotional restraint;
• non-conflict.

Prospects for the profession

The dentist profession is in demand and prestigious. Earnings are quite high, so the very opportunity to receive that kind of money is already a good prospect. In the future, you can develop and get the position of chief physician, become the owner of your own clinic or a private school of dentistry.

If you still have even the slightest doubt that the dentist profession is right for you, then we strongly recommend taking a career guidance test from Profguide . It costs mere pennies, and at the same time allows you to avoid mistakes that can go in the wrong direction and cripple your entire life. Find out more >>

Pros and cons of being a dentist

Like any other, the dentist profession has its pros and cons.

Advantages of being a dentist:

• high salary;
• demand in the market for good specialists;
• the possibility of opening your own office or clinic.

Disadvantages of being a dentist:

• almost inaccessible free education due to great competition;
• Like any medical profession, dentistry is a poor choice for sensitive people.

General dentist

A general dentist is a dentist who will provide first aid, treat a diseased tooth, remove it if necessary, and prescribe x-rays and tests. Approximately 80% of all dentists practice general dentistry. General practitioners treat all patients, adults and children, in many different health care settings and settings.

General practitioners:

• New methods and equipment are used to examine the head, neck and jaws to determine the condition of the person's oral cavity, as well as to identify and diagnose systemic diseases.
• X-ray and computer imaging, as well as other specialized diagnostic methods, are used.
• Restore and replace teeth damaged as a result of caries, lost as a result of injury or illness, with new dental materials, methods of installing crowns and bridges.
• Teeth are removed using modern anesthesia methods.
• Eliminate pain arising from oral diseases, conditions, injuries, using prescribed medications to reduce pain and discomfort.
• They correct incorrectly positioned teeth to improve chewing, speech, food absorption, and the appearance of the client.
• They give instructions, advice on care, preventive measures to preserve healthy tissues, and prevent diseases.

Principles of training

If you decide to become a dentist, then you need to understand that this profession is very responsible. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain a medical education.

Those who are interested in dentistry are wondering: how long to study to become a dentist and what is needed for this. To enter a university, you must:

• complete 11 grades in a secondary school;
• pass the appropriate exams in biology, chemistry and Russian.

It is necessary to understand whether a person is ready for this profession. To obtain a specialty in this field, you need good study and a specific goal, as well as the ability to find an approach to even the most picky and harmful patients.

Who should go to the dentists?

There is no shortage of personnel in this market segment. On the contrary, this is a very in-demand profession. About 2.5 thousand dentists graduate from higher educational institutions every year. In principle, this is relatively little, but this indicator is quite enough to satisfy the demand for dental services.

It is important

The character of the specialist should be calm. Particularly important are balance, diligence, and attentiveness. The dentist must be as careful as possible, because he works with a miniature instrument.

Sociability and ability to pay attention. A qualified specialist must be tactful, regardless of who turned to him for help.

Specialization requires high vision and developed fine motor skills.

Development of professionals

In most cases, it all starts with practice from the university. The student acts as an assistant. In some situations, dentists begin to see patients immediately, without practice.

There are two scenarios for the development of events: horizontal and vertical. The more experience and higher qualifications, the faster the prestige and number of clients grow.

Starting as a practicing physician, you can later take the place of head of department, deputy head physician and the post of chief physician.

The second option is scientific detail. After finishing your internship, you can enroll in graduate school. Then defend your dissertation, candidate's and doctoral dissertation. As a result, you can create your own school and make original developments.

As for advanced training. It is impossible to work in this industry without this. Most often, doctors in this field undergo retraining in state educational institutions. Depending on the direction, this could be a university, academy or other centers.

• Universities contribute as much as possible to advanced training. Most universities have faculties and courses in various areas of dentistry.
• There are also commercial centers and clinics where you can improve your skill level.
• To improve your knowledge, you can take advantage of seminars and lectures created by the Association of Dentists.
• Courses for dentists in Moscow are popular, and this also applies to trainings conducted in educational institutions.

note

There are specialists who prefer to expand their knowledge via the Internet. Webinars and additional online courses will allow you to receive a certificate while sitting in front of a PC monitor.

International confirmation of professionalism in this area is real. This requires knowledge of a foreign language. If you choose a scientific career, writing articles, books and other literature requires a thorough knowledge of the English language. If you intend to practice at foreign universities, your knowledge of a foreign language must be at the highest level.

You can work:

• In clinics.
• Public and private dental clinics.
• In children's institutions where there is an equipped dental office.
• Camps.
• Sanatoriums.
• Universities, academies.

Principles of remuneration in public and private clinics

The difference between private and public dentistry in remuneration can be quite significant. For example, in the capital, a dental therapist in a public clinic receives 50-60 thousand rubles , but in a private clinic, all other things being equal, he will receive 80-120 thousand rubles. In public medical institutions, a dentist’s salary consists of the official salary and various allowances. Among other things, such specialists receive additional payments for qualification categories, for a scientific degree (if any), etc.

In private clinics, salaries are calculated differently. At the same time, such institutions often compete with each other for good specialists, so everyone pays high salaries, and additionally attracts staff with good working conditions - a social package, modern equipment and optics, the presence of assistants, etc.

As a rule, if a dentist does not open his own office, but goes to work as an employee, then a plan for services is set for him, or more precisely, for their total amount. Depending on this, he receives the initially established percentage. At the same time, good clinics set a very realistic plan, taking into account the experience of previous months, and it is not difficult to implement it.

Salary for percentage

Pricing is usually determined by the clinic’s management. But in general, the price of relatively simple manipulations is determined by the cost of the materials used, to which a certain markup is added. However, in some areas of dentistry, the so-called technical cost of work is used - this is, for example, relevant for crowns and veneers, which are made not by the dentist himself, but by a dental technician. In this case, the percentage for calculating the salary of the dentist-therapist will be calculated a little differently. The markup itself can be almost any amount. In private clinics, it includes both payment of taxes and salaries of all staff, so it can be 200% or more.

Gray additional methods earnings

It also happens, of course, that not very conscientious doctors impose additional services where they could have done without it (mostly this concerns some aesthetic problems or professional oral hygiene services, but in general in reputable clinics this rarely happens).

Bonuses and awards

Most private clinics do not offer additional bonuses or bonuses. But some institutions practice training employees in courses and seminars at their own expense, and there are also those that include meals for employees in their benefits package.

Penalties

But there is a system of fines. Basically, they fine small sums for various violations of labor discipline - for example, for being late or for untimely filling out medical documentation. If the doctor makes any mistakes in treatment, then more stringent measures can be taken.

When working in a private clinic, you need to keep in mind that although the registration will be official everywhere, the management still wants to save on taxes. Therefore, many register as part-time doctors in order to minimize their contributions to the tax and pension fund.

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