Congratulations grad! You are off to college and deciding on a career path. There are so many options to choose from, depending on your interests and skill set. But it can be an overwhelming choice, especially when your interests pull you in many different directions. If you’re considering dentistry, you’ve probably seen a ton of blogs about how becoming a dentist is hard, time-consuming, and can be very expensive. But there are a lot of positives that should be considered as well! Here are five reasons why you should consider going to dental school.
- Once you graduate from dental school, you have the opportunity to join a shared office space with other health professionals. Take this time to learn from them. You never truly stop learning, even once you've graduated. Pick up on new and old tips and tricks that you can apply.
Transform people’s lives
- What’s the first thing you notice about someone that makes a lasting impression? A person’s smile, of course! Becoming a dentist gives you the power to transform people’s lives for the better. Presenting someone with new teeth, helping them keep a good oral hygiene routine, and detecting other diseases early on through their dental care are good indicators of what you could experience throughout your career as a dentist.
Many career opportunities
- Going to dental school doesn’t mean you have to open your own practice. You have the opportunity to pursue many different careers once you graduate! Including scientific research in the field, hospital dentistry, going abroad and performing international dental care, teaching academic dentistry, and more.
Earn a good salary
- Dentists make an average base salary of over $175,000 a year according to US News. Depending on where you live and what area you decide to specialize in can double or even triple your yearly earnings.
Be creative daily
- Being a dentist doesn’t just require you to know the mechanics and best oral health practices. You have to be able to adapt and think on your feet when you come across an issue or concern from a patient and that involves a lot of creativity! For example, making impressions of your patient’s teeth or creating a crown or implant just for them. Dentistry is often described as an art, as it involves a lot of restoration and helping to make a beautiful smile!
Build your future
- With the opportunity of opening your own practice, or continuing to build up the office you've joined, you can cultivate a future uniquely for you. This gives you the freedom to choose where you want to work, as well as, what kind of community you’d like to serve and be a part of.
Even though it’s a time-consuming career, it can be very rewarding as you’re helping someone with their smile. It’s the first thing people see and the last thing they remember, so think about that during those long nights of studying and while opening your practice. To learn more about what each year of dental school might look like, check out this article written by a dental student! Wonder what it’s like to open your own practice? Download our tip sheet to find out!
