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The training requirements for dentists and hygienists are stringent, similar to other medical professions. Dentists and hygienists both have important responsibilities involving preventing, diagnosing and treating oral health issues as well as counseling patients on overall dental wellness. To become a dental professional, years of education, clinical practice and multiple certification tests are required. Dental Education and Certification Process To start their education, prospective dentists must first complete a Bachelor’s degree. Dental schools require no specific major, but a science such as biology or chemistry can help prepare them for schooling in the same vein later on. After completing their undergraduate degree, prospective dentists must take the Dental Admission Test (DAT). The final score from this test along with their undergraduate grade point average, interviews and recommendations complete the package for application to dental school. Dental schools usually run four years and must be accredited and approved by the American Dental Association. At graduation, the student will possess either a doctor of dental surgery (DDS) or a doctor of dental medicine (DDM) degree. The first one to two years of schooling take place in classrooms and labs while the final two years involve clinical study and supervised practice. This is where future dentists gain the hands-on experience needed to begin their solo practice career. Once schooling is complete, students must pass the National Board Dental Examinations. They must also pass any additional state licensing exams and meet all other requirements, which may include an interview or a background check. Afterward, they are free to practice dentistry within their state. Dentists can advance their practice by pursuing further education in one of the nine available dental field specialties, such as orthodontics or pediatrics, which requires additional years of schooling, completion of a residency program and individual licensing procedures. Hygienist Education and Certification Process To begin, future hygienists pursue an Associate’s degree in applied science or dental hygiene. Most programs are offered by technical schools, community colleges or universities. Over the course of obtaining the degree, the future hygienist will receive classroom instruction combined with clinical study. Once the two-year educational process is complete, students can begin preparing for licensing exams. Every U.S. state requires hygienists to be licensed. The first step in licensing is to obtain an approved, accredited degree, then pass two exams — the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and the individual state’s examination. Similar to dentist certification, hygienists may also be required to provide recommendation letters, sit for interviews and pass a background check, but each state’s process differs. Hygienists who would like to advance their career can continue their schooling, pursuing either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, which would qualify them for teaching or conducting research in the dental field. Ask your dentist or hygienist about their training to learn more about what it takes to meet the requirements to work in this important field.
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